Judge, 1911-12-02 · page 7 of 24
Judge — December 2, 1911 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine collects nine separate single-panel joke comics, typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines. The cartoons feature everyday social situations used for satirical effect: **Key recurring themes:** - **Marital discord**: Multiple jokes mock wives and husbands, particularly wives' perceived nagging or interference (opening the boss's letters) - **Class dynamics**: Servant/employer relationships, payment negotiations, and social awkwardness - **Working-class struggles**: An employee fired after 50 years; workers questioned about delays - **Gender satire**: Women portrayed as troublesome (the judge's quip about the prisoner's hypothetical wife; the complaint about a "hard working wife") **The humor** relies on period stereotypes: shrewd business dealings, spousal incompatibility, and workplace hierarchy. The "Gordonettes" byline suggests cartoonist attribution rather than a coherent narrative. These jokes would resonate with *Judge*'s audience through relatable domestic and workplace frustrations, though the misogynistic undertone—particularly the equation of marriage with burden—reflects attitudes now considered dated.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Storckeeper—" Anything else I can send you? What would you say to a piece of cheese ?"" Buyer—"'I wouldn't say a word. It might answer me back.”” Mrs. Timms—"There's a man down stairs moving about.’* Mr. Timms—"' An’ there's a man up here that ain't goin’ to move about.”” Ben GID Boss—'* Well, you 've been with us for over fifty years now, and I guess we won't require your services any longer.” Nibbs—" Er—I wouldn't a-started with you if Thad known it wasn't going to bea steady job."” Go Miss—" How much will that be ?"” Freshy—"* That will cost you just one kiss."* Miss—"" All right. Aunty, pay the gentle- man, please. “* Well, of all the nerve some people have ! ‘There's the missus opening the boss’s let- ters !"" Judge—" Are you married ?”" Prisoner—"' No.” Judge—"" It's a good thing for your wife."* rdone t tes ob Ae ers Blowe— When 1 bought this house it wasn't fit for a dog to live in, and it cost me seven hun- dred dollars to fix it up. Showe—'' Wouldn't it been cheaper to have lost the dog?"” Foreman—'* When are you fellers going to finish this job? Here it is Monday, an’ termorrer 's Tuesday, an’ the next day Wednesday. Half the week gone, an’—"* * Hard working wife you "ve got.” Dobbs—'* Yep, an’ I wish I bad two or three more like her. comicbooks.com