Judge, 1913-11-29 · page 5 of 24
Judge — November 29, 1913 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satirical commentary on tenement housing conditions in early 20th-century America. **"Making Home Pleasant"** (left) depicts a conversation between Mrs. Renter and a landlord about living conditions in a tenement. The satire mocks the landlord's obliviousness to squalid, overcrowded housing—stairs covered in filth, persistent odors, vermin—while he suggests the tenant simply relocate to improve her situation. The dialogue highlights the gap between landlords' indifference and tenants' difficult circumstances. **"A Kettle of Fish"** (right) describes a case where tenant Gustav Schrimp was arrested for floating off with belongings, caught by Officer Herring. The story appears to satirize both tenant desperation and police enforcement of housing disputes. Both pieces critique inadequate housing and the powerlessness of poor urban residents.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PERS Re Making «40 MATTER what one’s environ- ment may be, my dear Mrs. Renter, it is possible to make home pleasant and give it -the home atmosphere,”’ said the visitor for the People’s Up- lift Mission to Mrs. Renter, 1a\ Z who had three rooms on the o fourth floor back in the tene- p4 ment house known as the % e 4 ZA a “Think so, do you?”’ said Mrs. Renter. ‘‘Ever live in three rooms in Grab Alley with seven in the fam'ly?’" “No, Mrs. Renter; but’?—— “Ever married to a man who spent more than half of his twelve dollars a week rushing the growler?"’ “Why, certainly not, Mrs. Renter; but, then’’ “Ever live where the people in the tenement next to you fought like pair of Kilkenny cats half the tag tia was full 0’ booze all the time?” “Of course not, Mrs. Renter; but’7—— “Ever live where you had to climb four flights of stairs covered with ashes and mud and potato parings and the Lord only knows what else?” “You know that I never did; but, then” “Ever smell anything worse than the smells that fill all the halls and stairways of this building? Ever been limited to Home Crow’s Nest, in Grab Alley. ~ RY SN AS EM-PERORI"’, Pleasant four chairs and two beds and a dozen or so of dishes for a fam’ly of seven? Ever had to do your washing and eating and cooking all in one room? Ever been limited to one dress for your back?’’ “Of course not; but, then’’. “Ever had to go out washing four days a week to get something for five children to eat and come home at night so dog tired you could hardly pull yourself up four flights of stairs? No, I reckoned you hadn’t. Well, now, before you try to work the makin’- home - cheerful - and - pleasant gag on me or any one else fixed as I am, you change places with me for a week and see how you come out with the real home atmosphere bizness. There are some experi- ences you haven't had. Excuse me now, for I got to stuff some rags in a couple of broken win- dows the landlord won't put new glass in. Good-bye. Come again some day when you want to git into a real pleasant environment!’’ —M. W. A Kettle of Fish Here is a combination that sounds like the aquarium. When Gustav Schrimp returned to his home he found William Schmelt in the act of floating off with some of his belongings. His cry for aid was heard and answered by officer Herring who, assisted by A. Fischer, succeeded in landing Schmelt in the police station, holding him in the meshes of the law. A BREATHLESS MOMENT ‘The Flatdwells measure the new cook for the kitchenette. comicbooks.com