Judge, 1912-12-28 · page 17 of 25
Judge — December 28, 1912 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects short humorous anecdotes from European satirical publications, translated for American readers. The jokes rely on social observations rather than political content: **Key themes:** - **Class distinction**: A waiter can identify gentlemen by behavior, not uniforms; a maid borrows "Nietzsche" while her employer reads frivolous literature - **Gender/fashion satire**: A woman in a restrictive hobble skirt refuses aid unless the helper belongs to the "Order for the Uplifting of Women" (ironic, given the skirt's impracticality); a wife buys her fifth autumn hat despite promises to stop - **Domestic life**: A child's determination to reach jam; a German father teaching piano; a husband discovers his wife's infidelities through a parrot's learned phrases The humor is gentle, middle-class oriented, and relies on recognizing social pretension and domestic absurdities. The selection demonstrates Judge's international outlook, reprinting jokes from London Opinion, Le Rire (Paris), and German publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
But He Will! Tommy (after repeated attempts to get at the jam, and not realizing the arrival of his mother)—‘‘If I pull the house down, I won't be beaten !”’—The Sketch (London). Snobs and Snobs. Little Snob—‘'I don't see any wait- ers. Why don't they wear uniforms? You can’t tell who are gentlemen and who are not, can you?’’ Superior waiter (sarcastically )— ‘*We waiters find no difficulty, sirt”” —London Opinion, A Summary Order. “Hier, dene zwoa Buben lernen S* mir vier hiindig Klavier spielen I” “Here, teach these two boys to play piano with four hands!""—Meg- gendorfer Blaetter (Munich). . chere madame, pulsque je vous dis q membre de I'ceuvre du relivement d femmes. The hobble-skirt lady has fallen and objects to aid: ‘‘Dear madam, you will permit me to assist you if I tell you that Iam a member of the Order for the Uplifting of Women.”’ —Le Rire (Paris). Consolation. ‘Consuéiate, es el ditimo: abora tengo que buscar de verano," Husband—'‘It's the fifth autumn hat that you are buying.’’ Wife—‘‘Console yourself. last. winter." It’s the I shall buy no more until '—Sucesos (Santiago, Chili). Contrasting Literary Taste. Jane—‘‘ Excuse me, madam; might I borrow ‘Nietzsche’ from the li- brary?’" Her ‘mistress—‘‘Oh, certainly, Jane; and bring me down ‘The Lady with the Purple Sash.’ ’’—Bystander (London). Art. Painting master (to pupil)—‘‘Too much green. Why did you put in so much?"’ Pupil—‘Well, I thought it went well with my red hair.""—Fliegende Blaetter. Betrayed. Gattin (von der Sommerreise heimkehrend)— “Na,Du must es ja recht hdbsch getrieben! Der Papagei ruft jetzt nichts als ‘prosit’ und Wife (returning from her summer trip)—‘‘Well, you have been behav- ing nicely, I dare say. The parrot repeats nothing but ‘Here goes!’ and ‘Drink 'er down!’ "’—Fliegende Blaet- ter (Munich). comicbooks.com