Judge, 1914-06-13 · page 11 of 24
Judge — June 13, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a romantic short story, not political satire. The illustration shows a young couple climbing a mountain together—depicted in the art at top. The narrative describes two resort guests who've grown bored with conventional activities (tennis, golf) and seek isolation and romance. They sneak away for a secret mountain excursion, presenting themselves as properly chaperoned ("luncheon in the morning") while clearly pursuing romantic adventure. The story's gentle satire targets the hypocrisy of Edwardian-era resort culture: the couple wants privacy for romance but must maintain appearances of propriety. Secondary humor involves elderly resort observers who recognize "Cupid's business" while pretending not to. The couple encounters a humble pastor and his wife at a mountain chapel—likely foreshadowing a moral or spiritual lesson about simple virtue versus sophisticated deception, though the page cuts off before resolution. The piece exemplifies Judge magazine's typical blend of social observation and romantic comedy aimed at upper-middle-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HEY had wearied of the conventional pleasures of the resort. Tennis no longer called them, and golf, which had gained more of their favor as it gave them something of isolation, had lately seemed like other sports, because they ees could not be absolutely alone. “Let us climb the mountain to-morrow,’’ he suggested. “Shall we?’’ Her tone really was concurrent. Nothing more was said about it for an hour or two. A Hungarian band, whose members almost enacted tango music as they played it, struck up, and he and she danced with the grace of experts and with the abandon of partners in perfect sympathy. And they danced again and again, unwearied. “If we climb the mountain to-morrow,’’ said she, ‘‘we must get a good night’s rest, must we not?’’ They were now walking on the piazza, their bodies still swaying to the music from within. Apparently they were searching for some little space where they might be alone. They passed sitting women, too old to flirt, yet young enough to take cognizance of Cupid’s business, although it might not be apparent to persons with legitimate things in mind; heavy men half asleep in chairs after dinners that beget lethargy; couples of young persons not yet arrived at a certain state of mutuality, though they were on the way to it; and other cou- ples so absorbed that they were oblivious of surroundings. On a Mountain By J. A, WALDRON The phases of Cupid's activity are as various as human impulses. When finally this pair had found a moment's privacy, they held hands a moment, and that was all, All but a ‘‘good-night,’’ he agreeing to plan for a luncheon they were to take with them in the morning. They were to keep their adventure secret. They met as planned and began their journey. The morn- ing was as joyous as they were. Near the foot of the moun- tain they stopped curiously to observe an old man with a kindly face, working in a small garden, in front of which was a small chapel and a tiny cottage, at the door of which stood a woman of like years and with a like kindly face. “Will you give us a drink of water?"’ asked the young man. The woman disappeared within the cottage and returned with a dipper, which the old man fiiled from a well with a sweep and handed to the young woman. She drank and passed it to her companion. “This is a small church,’’ ventured the young man, after acknowledging the courtesy. “Yes,’’ replied the old man. ‘‘Our flock is small. A few hereabout come to service, and once in a while curiosity seek- ers from the hotel.’”’ “And the clergyman?’’ “Tam the pastor,’’ replied the old man, comicbooks.com