Judge, 1911-03-25 · page 16 of 30
Judge — March 25, 1911 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satire targeting early 20th-century American social conventions. **"&c." (by La Touche Hancock):** A humorous essay mocking the overuse of "&c." (et cetera) as a lazy conversational and literary device—people use it when they lack precision, confidence, or wish to be vague. The piece satirizes how this abbreviation lets people dodge clarity in letters, courtship, and social situations. **"Essay on Being a Nobody" (by Frederick Moxon):** The main satire argues that paradoxically, choosing to be a "Nobody"—refusing civic participation, church membership, lodge societies, and political involvement—actually grants freedom and distinction. The satire cuts both ways: it mocks civic institutions' demands on members while suggesting that non-participation is itself a form of social rebellion. The cartoon below depicts a dinner scene where "the dinner is cold, but the reception is hot"—likely illustrating social awkwardness or marital discord amid formality. The piece reflects turn-of-the-century anxieties about conformity, organizational membership, and civic duty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
&c. By LA TOUCHE HANCOCK. TRITE expression, yet conven- ient; Used when upon the whole you're diffident. It leaves a something want- ing to be guessed, A crude, perfunctory ending—‘‘and the rest"?— &e, You take a lady—this might well occur, Especially if you're very fond of her— To wander forth to gaze upon the sky; And then you walk, and talk, and, well, you sigh, &e. With somebody, of whom you're not too fond, It’s necessary you should correspond. Maybe with him you've reason to be m: You close your letter, ‘‘I am yours’’— and add, “*&e."" In these and other cases it is nice To use, if you don’t wish to be precise, This vague, equivocal, ambiguous phrase, Which places everybody in a haze, &e. Essay on Being a Nobody. By FREDERICK MOXON. BE anybody in these days you must be a Nobody. Every one else is or tries to be a Somebody. I tried it myself for a time; then I saw that to really gain distinction I must step out from the ever-lengthening procession of Somebodies, take to the vacant sidewalk, and watch the parade. Can you imagine the feeling of free- dom and hilarity that took possession of me? No, you cannot. Nor will you until you also come out from amongst them and join me on the curbstone ina clear view of the bebadged Somebodies. Then you will have the fun of your life. Without being pushed or jostled or hav- ing your toes trodden and heels kicked, you can enjoy the show without a cent of expense to yourself. As a Nobody you don’t have to worry a scrap about politics. The ward bosses won't bother you at all, because you're a dead one—a Nobody. All you do is chuckle and vote any ticket you want to, without getting down for a campaign contribution. You may go to church or stay away, just as you feel, and neither the minister nor the deacon will stop you to inquire where you were Sunday. Not belonging to ‘our church," you don’t count--you’re a Nobody. Your neighbors, Biffle and Boffle, talk to each other across your neutral back- yard about the rare times they had last night down at the lodge, and you don’t have to stop mowing the lawn in order to join in. No; you can keep right along smoking your pipe, finish the job, and stretch yourself in the piazza chair before they are through chinning. Not being a member of the Royal Rooting Sons of Nebuchadnezzar, you have no interest in the conversation—you are a Nobody, and save that much in time and dues. A Nobody is not required to stand treat, nor hand around cigars, nor cudgel his memory for a funnier funny story than the other fellow. A Nobody can stay home nights if he le and SS THE DINNEX IS COLD, BUT THE RECEPTION IS HOT. co UP THE FLUME. ‘Oh, heaven! what will become of me?'’ wants to, and read his newspaper or favorite author without keeping one hand on his watch fob to see if it is time to be starting for that important meet- ing of the Somebodies. Do not be scared that if you are a Nobody you are going to miss something of what is doing in your town and neigh- borhood. A few cents per week for the local paper will keep you posted. The Somebodies will see to it that you are duly informed of their doings. Thus you will be furnished with entertainment at one small fraction of the regular price of admission. But where is the distinction, you ask. How are you going to stand out from the mass of Somebodies like a big rock ina huckleberry pasture? If you're a No- body, nobody will know it, will they? Oh, yes, they will; for see how it works. One Somebody asks another Somebody, “Who is that fellow standing by himself over there?’’ And thé other Somebody replies, ‘‘Who? Oh, that odd stick with the grin on him? He isn’t anybody. Don’t belong to anything I ever heard of. He's a Nobody.” And that is your certificate of unique- ness. WHEN you see a fellow who looks thoroughly unhappy, he has either been voting thé Democratic ticket or buy- ing something on the installment plan, comicbooks.com