Judge, 1913-12-20 · page 14 of 24
Judge — December 20, 1913 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a comic strip narrative about "little Willie," a mischievous child whose Christmas antics cause household chaos. The strip sequence shows Willie investigating Santa Claus, setting traps, and creating general disruption—culminating in family comedy. The accompanying text offers satirical commentary on upper-class New York society and domestic life. "The Class" section mocks the "Four Hundred" (the social elite), while "The Kid" romanticizes childhood innocence. "Explained" provides family humor through double-entendres: "frail fabric of matrimony" (marriage), and a joke about fathers receiving practical suspenders as Christmas gifts—suggesting marital disillusionment. The recurring theme critiques materialism and false appearances: "Do not judge the inside of a Christmas box by its wrapper" warns against valuing surface presentation over substance. Overall, the page satirizes wealth, marriage, and Christmas commercialism through domestic comedy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Christmas Commotion for which little Willie was responsible Class The Kid Explained Stranger—What is the population of S CHRISTMAS fills his little cup Bobby—What is meant by the frail fab- New York? With joy, from ear to ear he grins. —_ ric of matrimony, dad? Chumpleigh— Four Hundred, plus the Now, when he hangs both stockings up, Dad—The sort of suspenders your moth- people one doesn’t know. He only wishes he were twins. er gives me for Christmas, my son. How contented hubby would be if his A man without means is always the Do not judge the inside of a Christmas Christmas cigars smoked up tothe picture. _ most scientific judge of true philanthropy. box by its wrapper. comicbooks.com