Judge, 1913-07-19 · page 23 of 24
Judge — July 19, 1913 — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This piece satirizes American social pretension and the obsession with European nobility. Homer Croy, a Missouri writer, claims distant kinship to an actual British duke (the Duke of Croy) who married American Nancy Leishman. The satire works on multiple levels: Croy's obsequious letter hilariously conflates aristocratic dignity with American casualness—offering baseball talk, the Bronx Zoo, and borrowed chairs as entertainment. The Spanish humorist "Don Marquis" (who frames this) mocks both Croy's presumption of kinship and American eagerness to boast of any European connection, however tenuous. The joke reveals how American social climbers manufacture legitimacy through invented aristocratic links. By treating a distant name-sharing as grounds for kinship, Croy embodies the period's anxious yearning for old-world status. Judge's readers would recognize this as quintessentially American social climbing—trying to access "blue-blooded circles" through the thinnest possible pretense.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ure bles, of ines in The Laugh is on London NDER the heading ‘‘A Missouri Aris- U tocrat,"’ the Spanish humorist who signs himself “Don Marquis,” in the New York Evening Sun, prints the following interesting letter recently written by Homer Croy to apprise the Duke of Croy of a probable relationship, of which the duke should be proud. The Spanish grandee of the Evening Sun ‘is by turns complimentary and sarcastic in his some- what gratuitous comments on Mr. Croy, bot is probably a little nettled at the possibility that Mr. Croy may yet prove himself entitled to move in the same blue-blooded circle: “Homer Croy, of Missouri, Fourth ‘Avenue, Washington Square and inter- mediate points, author of ‘Six Years Oat of College, and Still Broke,’ a gaunt young person of our acquaintance who will control the publishing business of . the country if he isn’t lynched, elected‘, Vice-President or otherwise suppressed during the next few years, has discov- ered that he is a relative of a real live duke. “The following letter from this aris- tocrat of the Ozarks tu. the Duke of Croy was recently published jn a London paper: Your Grace—It is with pleasure I have read inthe papers about the marriage to Miss Nancy Leishman, aod Lam glad to congratulate yu by reason of the fatthat Eshare wih you the name of Croy.. You probably did not know this before, and I am glad to be the first to imvart the information to you, yesh an unuaual name that I feel we must be rel Thave never had the pleasare of meeting you hope toat atime not far distant. 1 particularly want tomeet you as you are the only duke to whom I am peated, [never saw aduke in all my life, but I know Ishoald like you. Idon’t knot what dukes talk about, but if you are interested in béseball I know it would tot be long until we felt as if we had known eachother jor years. Sil oer bloc your wile to America, where ebe was torn and brought up, I hope: you will drop in to see me. Iwill borrow a couple of extra chairs from down the hall and we three will havb a jolly party. i know tae dachess will like to meet her new relatives. Is she food of picture shows? If she is, and likes 6 saimals, we wili have a pleasant time, for our Aqi jum and the Bronx zoo are the best in America, Yoa should do all you can to entertain your new bride and give her aninteresting honeymoon. I should lice to show her all the points of interest around New York, inclading Ellis Island and the Jumel Mansion, so tha: in after years the duchess can look back to the bridal trip with pleasure and satisfaction. istinet pleasure to pe to know we bear the You will find the American Croys all con- the best stereoscopes in our homes that Boney can buy. + Does the duchess play? We shall have our organ fixed up in case she is musically inclided. Does sho like to go out in 2 L hope 80, as we were intend- ing to have several of our friends in, However, if Fur nile prefers reading and quiet. ahe can always “Paradise Lost” and “Romola”’on the center table. In return it would be a pleasure for me to call on you when I come to Germany. Travel isso broadening 82 as soon as [can save money enough for the pass- age | shail come to your country. I don’t want you to pat yourself out, as I hate to feel the responsibility. me aroom on the top floor with running water, tell me what time to come downto breakfast and worry Bo more about me. . Newspaper de«patches do not give’your first name, They simply call you the Duke of Croy. 1 you arrange for orchestra seats instead of a box? I'm afraid my black suit will get all wrinkled up on the: ‘way over, but if you prefer a box, all right with me. Assaring you I'm highly pleased to make your ac- gutintance, and trusting you will remember me to yoar father and mother, I am your friend and well- er. “One advantage of being a member of the American nobility is that one is en- abled to pick his title. We suggest, if Homer Croy has not already been branded, that he assume the style and entitlements of Grand Dutch Measle of Missouri.’” ok: WSS Barley Fields NO Bring Health Thestrength of all nature is found in every kernel of Barley entering in- to the brewing of Budweiser “The Friend of the American Farmer” The tonic properties of the finest Saazer Hops properly blended with selected Barley make Budweiser alive with health and vigor. Bottled only‘at the home plant in St. Louis Anheuser-Busch Brewery St. Louis Do you know a little baby just like this? It’s jolly little laugh is always sweet to hear. The Bugville Book is the, very thing. for it. Make this baby happy’'with a copy... * There are over 70 pages of the Adventures of the Inhabitants of Bugville—an endless source of entertainment. Even grown ups will like it. We'll send this to you for just 10c. JUDGE 225 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK ° In answering advertisements please mention JUDGE. It will be appreciatet. comicbooks.com