Judge, 1911-12-09 · page 11 of 28
Judge — December 9, 1911 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* presents holiday humor mocking Christmas sentimentality and middle-class pretense. The top cartoon shows a child looking at a lit window in snow—titled "Christmas Somewhere"—implying contrast between ideal Christmas imagery and harsh reality. Below are four satirical vignettes: **"Poor Father"** jokes about married men enjoying holiday treats (holly, mistletoe) while unmarried men don't. **"Suspicious"** has a nurse presenting a newborn as a Christmas gift; the child Johnny suspects it's a replacement for a sibling who died. **"Christmas Heroes"** is the main text—a lengthy list of ironic "heroes" describing hypocritical or financially strained people: parents hiding presents, miserly hosts, cheapskate gift-givers, men hocking coats for presents, and servants refusing tips. The satire targets the gap between Christmas's idealized image and actual behavior—exposing vanity, financial anxiety, and moral compromises among the middle and upper classes trying to maintain appearances during the holiday season.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Inclined to Get Under It. LITTLE holly, now and then, Is relished by the married men; But tastes of maidens—-well, you know, They lean toward the mistletoe. Poor Father. COVELL. what did you get on Christ- mas?"" “A notice from the bank that my ac- count was overdrawn."’ Suspicious. Nurse—‘‘Here is a little brother for Christma: Johnny—"‘Looks like some one had passed on the one they got last year.’"” CHRISTMAS SOMEWHERE. Le MP “MR GRHEMe Christmas Heroes. HE PARENT who trundles a load of presents home at midnight, so that the children won't see them. The host who carves the turkey of all the choice parts and then looks happy while he eats what is left. The young man who starts for a bunch of girls under the mistletoe and kisses the one who is too old to run away. The kid who won't ask Santa Claus for a bobsled and pair of skates because his mother is afraid he will break his neck or get drowned. The newlywed who will pretend to like his wife's first mince pie and ask for another piece. The fond parent who will work all night with an axe and saw to adapt the Christmas tree to the modern flat. The married man who wears the neck- tie and smokes the cigars his wife gave him. The good-natured man who rigs him- self up to impersonate Santa Claus at the children’s entertainment. The fellow who hocks his overcoat to buy his girl a present. The present-givers who stint them- selves the rest of the year in order to keep up appearances. Last, but not least, the man who re- fuses to tip the janitor. comicbooks.com