Judge, 1914-12-05 · page 22 of 36
Judge — December 5, 1914 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Christmas gift-giving anxieties circa early 1900s. The main cartoon "Pass, Friend!" depicts a soldier or traveler being granted passage, illustrating seasonal charity themes. The column "On the Way" mocks middle-class gift-giving paralysis: the speaker has carefully planned modest gifts for numerous people (fishing poles, poetry books, fountain pens) but admits he can't afford to give them "this year"—he'll wait until he has cash, implying perpetual financial strain. "No Criterion" jokes about gift expectations: Mrs. Goode boasts her husband's gift-giving proves his understanding, while the dialogue suggests women receive expensive items they could buy themselves. "About This Time Look Out" catalogs common Christmas complaints: the expense ("such a tax"), difficulty choosing gifts, and gendered frustrations (wives asking for money when husbands claim other priorities like car repairs). The satire targets widespread middle-class economic anxiety and the commercialization of Christmas—gifts as obligatory social performance despite financial hardship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
On the Way I'VE THOUGHT my plans out carefully— A fishing pole and reel to Ben; To Jane a book of poetry; To Tom and Dick a fountain pen; To Rose a handkerchief of lace; To Kate a pretty ornament; To Margaret a sewing case; To Will a matchbox I'll present. A necklace I intend for Nell; A nice umbrella is for Ed; An album I intend for Belle; A pair of boxing gloves for Jed. Yes, I intend to give them all (To do so this year would be rash And surely drive me to the wall) Some Christmas when I have the cash! No Criterion you better than you think, Christmas present he gave me. “PASS, FRIEND!” Nathan M. Levy | Mrs. Wood—But perhaps your husband really understands Mrs. Goode—Nonsense, my dear! Just let me show you the About This Time Look Out for These Remarks: 1. Christmas is getting to be such a tax! 2. It is so hard to think of anything to give a man! 3. The trouble she can buy anything in the world she wants for herself. 4. If Tom only smoked 5. I'm sure I don’t know what it’s for, but it looks prett 1 guess I'll take it. 6. Two dollars? What a pity! It’s just exactly the thing, but I can’t get off with less than five dollars for her. 7. No, I make all of mine myself. It shows so much more love, I think. 8. Won't you be relieved when it’s all over? 9. Just go and get anything you want for yourself and the children and charge it. But don’t bother me! 10. It doesn’t seem in the least like Christmas this year. 11. Next year I sha‘n’t send one earthly thing but postal cards. 12. Will you look at that! From a woman with her money! Out of the Question ford—Women are very unreasonable. Crabshaw—There’s my wife, for instance. She asked for money for Christmas, when she knew the car needed overhauling. There are so many ‘‘Gifts for Smokers. so