Judge, 1914-05-02 · page 10 of 41
Judge — May 2, 1914 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a short story illustration by Helen A. Spafford, not political satire. The narrative follows a French millinery shop owner (Madam Juliette) who employs a homely orphan girl named Jane. The owner describes Jane's pitiful background: she worked keeping accounts at a jewelry business owned by "Monsieur Jenkinson," a middle-aged man. The accompanying illustrations show dancers at an "Académie de Danse" and dialogue about spring fashion and church attendance with chaperones—suggesting the story involves seduction or impropriety. The satire targets late 19th/early 20th-century French fashion commerce and social hypocrisy: the genteel façade of respectable businesses masking exploitation of vulnerable young women, particularly orphans. The emphasis on Madam Juliette's pretentious French shop name contrasts with her ruthless business practices and schadenfreude toward her employees' misfortunes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Partner By HELEN A, SPAFFORD BE SEATED, monsieur. Here, in this room of comfort be- hind my shop of millinery, I escape the troubles of my business. Ah, my friend! a-nowadays, it is a thing of diffi- culty to carry on atrade. Be sure upon my sign are words of dignity. There swings the name of Madam Juliette, Emporium de Francais, Les Chapeaux Beaux. But, back of the words, who knows the need of money, and the credit for feathers, satins and the aigrettes? I do enjoy these moments of peace and discourse with you. A-ha—what’s that? A knock upon the door? You see, those girls whom I employ will leave me not a moment. A plague upon the fool to interrupt! Come in, I say, come in! Babette? Go out and manage this new customer yourself. Monsieur—there is no customer. That girl, she comes in curi- osity to look upon my visitor. And now, just watch—again you see there is a shaking of the door. I'll creep up softly to the door, and turn the handle swiftly, and make of you a witness of this act of perfidy. Ab, Jane, a thousand pardons! 1 fear I hurt your visage! Come in, my child, and tell to madam your perplexity. You cannot make a bow? Well, seek that lazy Chicette, and she shall teach you, and later I shall review your best of efforts. I press your hand and say to you that per- severance is achievement. Behold in me, monsieur, a purring cat. I stroke the fur of Jane, my latest acquisition. I observe aston- ishment as you glance at Jane. In truth, she is of an ugliness that is dis- tressing. The wisp of hair, the lob- ster eyes, the skin the shade of putty —I shudder when I look too long. And yet, my tender heart it weakens when I hear from Jane her story. An orphan, monsieur, engaged in the accounts in a place of jewelry business that is owned by one Jenkin- son. No counters in this place with rude display of jewelry are seen, A shop upon a thoroughfare, with velvet pile of carpet, and a graceful service of the clerks to take the jewels from closets lined along the walls. It does appear, Monsieur Jenkin- son is a man of middle age and well Eve regardant les bourgeous frais) — Quel dommage, je crois vraiment que la couleur a la mode cette saison sera de nouveau le vert! Eve (looking at the new buds)—Oh, dear! 1 do be- lieve the color in clothes will be green again this spring. ENTENDU A L’ ACADEMIE DE DANSE * Veux—tu m’ accompagner al’ eglise, Dimanche, Fifi?" «Ma mere n’y consentira jamais sans un chaperon, Charles."* OVERHEARD AT THE TROTTERY ** Will you go to church with me Sunday night, “* Mother wouldn't hear of it without a chaperon, Charlie comicbooks.com