Judge, 1913-04-19 · page 6 of 24
Judge — April 19, 1913 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge contains satirical humor typical of early 20th-century American magazines. **"An Ever-ready Salesman"** ridicules aggressive salesmen of the era. Mr. Dubbleigh, caught embracing Miss Hickenlooper by her father, responds to being kicked out by immediately pivoting to selling the man a "Neverbump Shock Absorber"—a fictional car part. The joke satirizes salesmen so relentlessly driven by commission that they exploit *any* situation, even violence against themselves, as a sales opportunity. **"Annual Ads"** and the accompanying cartoon snippets mock spring advertising saturation, suggesting advertisers promote everything from garden tools to patent medicines. The line "even rocks are made to proclaim the virtues of an advertised article" suggests advertisement has become absurdly omnipresent. **"Free Advertising"** dialogue jokes about celebrity culture: socialites complain about paparazzi ("camera fiends"), but popular heroes acknowledge that being photographed is itself valuable publicity—they'd be hurt if ignored. The page is primarily humorous commentary on commercialism, aggressive marketing, and emerging mass media culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“POSTAL LIFE" An Ever-ready Salesman ME. DUBBLEIGH, the accomplished head salesman of the Hikealong car, was calling upon the fair Miss Hickenlooper, with distinct intentions, upon which the young lady was disposed to look favorably. For this reason it is perhaps not surprising that, when the young woman's father suddenly entered the room, Mr. Dubbleigh was, to his amazement, discovered with his arm about her waist. “Why, Mr. Dubbleigh,’’ protested the old gentleman, with an apoplectic gasp, “I am astonished, sir—nay, more, I am positively shocked !’” “Shocked?"’ cried Dubbleigh, spring- ing to his feet like a warrior in response to acall to battle. ‘‘Shocked, sir? Iam glad you told me. It gives me an oppor- tunity to call your attention to our new Neverbump Shock Absorber, only placed on the market last week and unquestion- ably the last word in devices of that na- ture. It is simple and inexpensive, con- sisting of an inverted vertical cylinder, “IT'S AN INDIAN!" filled with a special preparationof distilled air, operating”’—— But he never fin- ished. The old gentle- man was a militant sort of individual, and Mr. Dubbleigh found himself suddenly pro- pelled into outer dark- ness by a sudden jar from Mr. Hickenloop- er's right foot, at a point of contact never yet suitably protected by any kind of a mechanical device known to man, Undismayed, however, he gathered himself up and shouted back to his assailant as he walked away, “T'll send you our catalogue in the morning, containing a full de- scription of the apparatus, sir, and shall be most happy to give your esteemed order immediate attention.”” Annual Ads H°ES and rakes, assorted seeds, Fertilizers, garden shears, Incubators, chicken wire, Guaranteed to last for years; Patent roofing, berry plants, Iron fences, watering pots, Paint and gravel, rubber hose, Offers in suburban lots. Lingerie and picnic hams, Motor boats and balls and bats, Cameras and tents and swings, Awnings, trunks and outing hats; Tonics, plasters, tablets, pills, Traps to catch the pesky fly— When these annu- aladsappear, Then we know that spring is Even rocks are made to proclaim the virtues of an advertised article. LIKLY BAGGAGE Free Advertising Society leader—It's awful to have these camera fiends after one! Popular hero—Yes; but just think what it would be if they didn’t notice us! DRESS SHIELDS comicbooks.com