Judge, 1915-11-27 · page 15 of 28
Judge — November 27, 1915 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* presents several humorous sketches satirizing early 20th-century social conventions and relationships. The main photograph shows a man running to catch a train while a woman waves goodbye—illustrating the caption "He Missed the Train by Two Kisses," a commentary on romantic entanglement interfering with practical obligations. The written sketches mock various social types: "A Mysterious Personage" describes a woman named Polly (likely a servant or working woman) through contradictory traits, implying her social position makes her inscrutable. "Just Business" jokes about romantic language infiltrating business correspondence—reflecting anxiety about blurred professional boundaries. "The Needless Needle" puns on Cleopatra's Needle (the obelisk) while making crude remarks about Cleopatra's famously scanty clothing and morals. Other pieces lampoon materialism ("The Ruling Passion"), domestic disappointment ("Wrecked"), and idealized femininity ("The Model Maid"). The humor targets class anxieties, changing gender roles, and romantic/business etiquette confusion of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE A Mysterious Personage HE rarely marrics. She has no domestic life. She has nointimates. She is iso- lated from relatives. She never lacks atten- tion. She accepts service as a matter of course. She has a hearty laugh. She rarely fails to cordially greet an acquaintance. She is garrulous by fits and starts. She looks sullen, but is usually friendly. Her dignity is unquestioned. Her patience is unrivalled. She does not follow fashion, but her apparel is rich and gaudy. She not only repeats herself but others. She loudly proclaims her gastronomic preference. She is prone to bad language. She is often imprisoned. She never telephon et says “Hello.” Her name is—Polly!—G. Vere Tyler. Wrecked Crawford—Did your wife find fault with the way you took care of the place while she was away in the country? Crabshaw—I should say so. She said the. apartment looked as if it had been subletted for the summer. The Ruling Passion Cynicus—When a man gets all the money he knows what to do with, there’s only one thing he wants. Sillicus—And that is? Cynicus—More money. Just Business “But this is just a business letter and you used to—” my dear, but even my business letters are getting personal nowadays.” 7 pen Usthes | (HOF + Githes | Oe 3 A GOOD THING FOR A YOUNG LADY TO HAVE ON HAND MISSED THE TRAIN BY TWO KISSES The Needless Needle é6¢NTOW, ma,” said the young man who was showing his visiting mother the wonderful sights of the city, “would you like to go into the park and sce Cleopatra’s Needle?” “TI didn’t know that hussy ever used a needle. She didn’t spend much time sewing, from the scanty wardrobe she had in all the pictures of her that I ever saw.” —C. L. Edson. The Model Maid She makes no threat to summon help, In fact she offers no objection; My arm goes firmly ’round her waist, My ears detect no interjection. Experience this maid has had; She murmurs not when I caress her. Her lips are wax, ber heart is too, And I—well,I’m the window-dresser. ——Will Il. Hendrickson. Between Friends “Say, old chap, you’re a good friend of mine, aren’t,you?” “Sure. <And you’re a good friend of mine, aren’t you?” “Sure. And, say, I want to borrow ten Jojlars.” “Quiet, Major, quiet. Listen. So do I, and if you can find anybody with a few bucks to spare, let me know, will you?”