Judge, 1912-11-09 · page 12 of 24
Judge — November 9, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story illustrates hypocrisy using the biblical phrase "straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel"—condemning minor transgressions while ignoring major ones. Conductor Williams offers Mrs. Smith free train travel (implied as a seduction tactic), which her husband finds outrageous. However, Smith responds by exploiting this "impropriety" to ride free for six months without a ticket—committing the very offense (fraud/bribery) he condemned Williams for attempting. The joke critiques moral double standards: Smith righteously punishes Williams's minor flirtation while casually committing larger dishonesty himself. The title "The Bribe-Taker" ambiguously applies to both men—Williams attempted seduction; Smith accepted ongoing bribes. The cartoon mocks people who selectively enforce ethics based on personal advantage rather than principle.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* How dare you attempt to kiss me, Mr. You very well know how I de- Softleigh ? spise such silly frivolities."” STRAINING AT A GNAT AND SWALLOWING A CAMEL. Williams's RETTY Mrs. Smith, a refined and rather timid little woman, was tak- ing one of her rare trips on the train. Williams, the conductor, who always had an eye ‘out for pretty women, en- tered into ednversation with her. Find- ing the journey long and tiresome, Mrs, Smith answered his sal- lies with quiet dignity. As she was leaving the train, Williams es- corted her out with great attention, and, handing her his private card, said significant- ly, “I will be glad to have you travel on my train as often as you wish. You will not need a ticket—just keep my card.’” Upon returning home, Mrs. Smith related to her husband the incident of the conductor's “kindness”? to her, showing him the card. To her amazement, Smith became violently angry, putting the card in his pocket and vowing dire vengeance on the offi- cious conductor. Shortly after this, Smith had occasion to take the same train on which his wife had traveled. When the conductor came THE BRIBE-TAKER, Waterloo. through, he accosted ‘him with, ‘‘ Your name is Williams, isn’t it?’’ to which the other nodded assent. Smith then produced the card and, looking him fiercely in the eye, exclaimed, ‘You gave this to my wife—it doubtless in- cludes, the whole fami- ly!" A dull red burned in the other’s face, and without a word he went down the aisle, leaving Smith chuckling under his breath. For six months Smith rode on that train with- ‘out buying a ticket, Williams but glancing at him and passing hur- riedly on. Tolerably So. First drummer —‘‘I8 Swampville a very slow town?’” Second drummer— “Slow! Why, they’ve got frogs there three years old that haven't learned to swim yet!"’ comicbooks.com