Judge, 1916-03-18 · page 15 of 28
Judge — March 18, 1916 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple unrelated satirical pieces typical of Judge's format. **Main cartoon (top):** Shows a social scene where a woman named Polly comments on another woman's skating. The accompanying story criticizes Mrs. Mumpower's treatment of her Finnish maid, Segrid. Mrs. Mumpower deliberately exploited superstition by lying to the maid about cobwebs being bad luck, then secretly creating cobweb "accidents" to keep her fearful and obedient. The satire targets wealthy employers who manipulate vulnerable immigrant workers through deception. **"The Negative":** A brief romantic poem about a photograph, playing on the double meaning of "negative" (photographic plate vs. refusal). **"Indications":** A humorous poem about spring's arrival, using absurd images (ash piles from last fall's expenses). **Beast illustration (right):** An unrelated comic drawing about a Tibetan creature. The page reflects Progressive-era concerns about labor exploitation and immigrant vulnerability in American households.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Polly—How well Kathleen skates now. sarily at Mrs. Mumpower's a week later to distribute Belgian sewing materi ing and disappointed eye did not fasten on single ar. nid was as spick and faultless as a window display. Other wom- en tempt- ed the nish find with differ- ent and vary- ing offers, but always, as regular as clocl work, id came back to attack Mrs. Mumpower’s household ca with redou- bled ene until seductive attempts were no longer made to lure Segrid from her low salaried but dependable position. And all were secretly glad when Segrid packed her worn suitcase for the last time and tripped off to be the bride of a rising young cabinet maker. “What do you think?”’said Mrs. Tuthill indignantly to Mrs. Rohn, as they were walking home from an afternoon at Belgian bandages. ‘Mrs. Mumpower let it out how she was able to keep that Finnish maid of Ted—What ? hers. T overheard her telling it and I think it’sawful. She told her that it was bad luck to sweep down cobwebs! And when the maid caught her finger in the dumbwaiter Mrs. Mumpower made her believe it was because she had torn down a cobweb the day before. When she saw the maid accidentally brush one down she put a mop on the cellar stairs for her to stumble over. The maid got to be ‘fraid as death of them—and then what do you suppose Mrs. Mumpower would do? Thursdays, when the maid was out, she'd slip around and sweep them down herself! 1 think it’s awful to teach such things to a poor working girl that has just come over to this country. Why, Mrs. Rohn, it’s downright lying!” The Negative 667 HE photograph you've given me, How sweet and true to life it is! Some day I hope to ask,” said he, “For the original of this.” “That,” she replied, “might seem, perchance, Somewhat too much for me to give; Yet will I promise in advance That you shall have the negative.” —Eugene C. Dolson Some people who are dying to attract attention don’t until they do. Why, she can't stay five consecutive minutes on her feet. Polly—But she falls so gracetully ! Indications HEN the sunlight warm and cheery Makes your winter clothes look weary, And your heavy underwear begins to cling; When the garden’s mammoth ash pile Marks the tomb of last fall's cash pile, And the dicky birds and bards begin to sing: When the women’s clothes grow brighter And the clouds and bills grow lighter; Then it’s pretty safe to gamble that it’s spring Walter G Doty. They say this beast is living yet. When I was there in nineteen-four, One night we thought we heard ie night we ight we eG, comicbooks.com