Judge, 1914-11-28 · page 12 of 24
Judge — November 28, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a romantic comedy narrative about Hiram, a young man who proposes to Belle, a chorus girl, after being disinherited by his father Bartholomew. The story satirizes early 20th-century class anxieties: despite losing his fortune, Hiram's love proves genuine—Belle accepts him anyway, and they elope on a steamship to a neutral port to marry. The humor targets wealthy fathers' control over inheritance and upper-class assumptions about marriage motivated by money. The inserted joke about the Van Aldens suggests extreme wealth creates social isolation ("so rich they have no neighbors"). The "Judge's Motion Pictures" comic strip below appears to depict a horse-trading storyline (titled "A Horse of a Different Color; and In Strong at the Finish"), though individual panels are too small to read clearly. This reflects Judge's typical satirical focus on American social pretensions and romantic entanglements among the leisure classes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VERY TRUE Hiram got a wireless from Bartholomew that for essen- tial brevity would have pleased a space-hunting edi- tor: ‘You are disinherited,"’ it said. “That'll not make any difference with you, sweet- heart, will it?’’ asked Hi- ram, showing the message. “Why, no—if—if’—— “If I can make a living, you mean? Why, I'msure I can. And we'll save money by cutting this trip a bit “It is pretty tough when you pay a dollar for a chop."” short.’’ “Yes, sir; but it would be tougher if you paid less, sir."” “But your father will re- lent, I suppose, when he has eral passengers, including Hiram and Belle, crowded to the rail. Hiram, in an access of love, covertly pressed his lips to Belle’s hand. She, suddenly thought- ful, had just seen a face she knew, and cast a glance backward. It was an older flame, Carlton Cherry, who gave her a frank and admiring look of recognition. He had lo-t a fortune, and among his economies of late had been elimination of White Way activities. Belle had read in this very morning’s paper that Carlton, having come into a new fortune by the death of an aristocratic aunt, was sailing to their own destination. “Oh, well, dear,’’ said Belle to Hiram, “*we’ll not worry about the future."’ A. Standard steady companion. Even M’sieu Pastelle, had time to cool off.”” the famous portrait painter, who was “I don’t depend on that. The old gen- City man—Are the Van Aldens rich? paid for a good job, made her look like a tleman never backs up."’ Suburbanite—So rich that they have no feminine promoter of revolution.”” They were dropping the pilot, and sev- neighbors. “But her money, boy !’’ “T thought you had a bunch of it.”” Bartholomew laughed at the jest, and Hiram went forth to amatinee. He had gone toa certain theater day and night for quitea period. After the performance he had been seen almost as frequently at a re- served table in the swellest neighboring restaurant with Belle Jilton, the very pretti- est young woman in thechorus,. Belle had never lacked fancy meal tickets, but there was something about Hiram that appealed to her. This same evening, as Hi- ram and Belle sat dallying with terrapin, broiled squab- turkey and trimmings, while the band droned the almost threadbare music of wornout dances, Hiram came to a con- clusion, “Will you marry me?” “Why not?”’ “To-night?"’ “*How about a license?’’ “Well, then, as soon as we can arrange it?’’ “Haven’t I answered you, dearest?"’ And so it was settled. Late the next day Hiram and Belle were on board a steamship guaranteed to be immune from naval interference, bound for a port unquestionably neutral. Just before they sailed Hiram had sent a message to DBar- tholomew, advising him of a momentous step. While the ship was seeking open water JUDGE'S MOTION PICTURES ae hile A Horse of a Different Color; and In Strong at the Finish comichooks.