Judge, 1915-12-25 · page 17 of 29
Judge — December 25, 1915 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the hypocrisy and infidelity lurking beneath early 20th-century respectability. **Main Cartoon (top right):** Two married women meet by chance and confess to each other that their husbands neglect them due to business travel, pushing them toward affairs. They discover they're meeting *the same two men* at lunch at Almondo's restaurant—only to find those men are actually *each other's husbands*. The joke exposes how easily marriages deteriorate when spouses travel, and the absurd irony when infidelity circles back on itself. **Secondary cartoon (bottom left):** A crude joke about a child hitting his sister, with the punchline suggesting her entire body is "wrapped up"—likely a reference to tight corsetry, common women's fashion of the era. **"Fashion Note":** A brief satirical comment mocking whatever checked patterns were fashionable that season. **"The Lunch Hour" poem:** Social commentary on New York's chaotic noon hour—crowded streets, hustling workers, various types (suffragettes, cab drivers, the unemployed)—with the ironic observation that no one actually has time to eat lunch. The overall theme critiques modern urban life's pressures and moral compromises.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Here.” “Lovely. Soam I! We shall renew acquaintance, and make up for lost time.” “Why not? But we must know something new of each other. I’m mar- ried, dear! Two years ago!” “Yes? Soam I! Three years ago.” They looked at each other in si- lence. There seemed to be a desire on both sides for revelation. “Happy?” “Answer for yourself first, dear!” “Well, we ought to confide. I was happy until my husband became so involved in business he was—and is— traveling most of the time. And then——” “Men who travel much are awful flirts, aren’t they?” “Of course. nd women who are left alone much——”” “Can’t help it! Come, dear, we must be candid! I was happy also un- til my husband invested in an enterprise that keeps him from home days and days together. And men ental. Sometimes they don’t even take the pains to kiss their wi good-by. We have a com- mon bond of sympathy, you and I, and I’m going to confess. I’ve become acquainted with a lovely fellow. It isn’t too serious yet, but he’s superb! I just came in here to p the time. I’m to meet him for luncheon at Almondo’s at 1.30. It’s 1.15 now.” “Heavens!” * “Shocked?” “Shocked? No. I’m bewildered. What a coincidence!) Why, dear, I’ve an appointment at Almondo’s also at 1.30.”” absorbed in business grow unsentim: Qyaccen J YooNe— “Why did you slap your sister's face?” “Cause th’ rest uv ‘er was wrapped up.” FASHION NOTE No one will be seen with checks this season.” “With a man?” “Of cour: A charming chap! What are we to do?” “What can we do but go right away together, ina cab? We can separate at the door. Pretend we don’t know each other, if you please. I'd like to glimpse your friend, I confess. And aren’t you dying to see mine? We'll exchange cards now and look each other up afterward.” They rummaged for their card-cases as they hastened out of Madame Jamet’s and hailed a passing cab. In front of Almondo’s two dapper men, strangers to each other apparently, were idling to and fro as the cab drew up. One had a carnation on hi . and the other a rosebud. “Sh! Look! ‘iam, nudging Hester. ‘‘There’s my friend. The one with a carnation. Isn’t he swell?” “You don’t mean—" choked Hester, in a maze. “Why, that’s my husband!” And the rose-decorated chap, who had been waiting for Hes- ter, was the husband of Miriam. The Lunch Hour WALKED down the street at the hour of noon— Thad to be back on the job pretty soon— And all of New York, in a ravenous bunch, Were herding uptown for a trifle of lunch. I watched, with my appetite whetted and raw, And these are a few of the things that I saw: \ suffragette speaking with rancorous din, A bibulous cab-driver being “run-in,” A crowd which was watching a show-window dresser, Ten sandwich-men puffing a Cleaner and Presser, Nine hundred and ninety-nine more or less shameless Young persons whose wand'rings were patently aimless, ‘Some five thousand men, all intent upon beating Each other in business—and nobody eating! Oh, yes, it was Noon—but have a good hunch The Lunch-hour’s no time to be eating one’s lunch! —P. Gregory Hartswick. Always Wrong Manager—I'm disgusted with the mistakes that new man makes! He gets everything balled up. Assistant manager—O, well, some of the best ones are that way at the beginning. He may bring home the bacon yet. Manager—He won't unless we send him for ham. comicbooks.com