Judge, 1916-09-09 · page 6 of 32
Judge — September 9, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the social burden of neighborly obligation and the dangers of appearing too available during summer vacation. Mr. Ganson decides to stay home rather than vacation, but his apparent availability triggers an invasion: neighbors exploit his presence by dumping their pets and problems on him—twenty chickens, two dogs, a cat, a parrot, a broken automobile, and a goat. The Board of Health receives complaints about noise from these animals. The humor lies in Ganson's predicament: by being helpful and agreeable, he creates endless social obligations. The satire targets middle-class social conventions where refusing requests directly is impossible, forcing people into situations they neither want nor can easily escape. The smaller cartoon "Making Himself Solid" makes a pun about eating cake to "make myself solid" (win favor), suggesting that food is currency in social climbing. The final jab at "campaign poets" and "Mooses" appears unrelated—possibly a separate editorial comment about political campaigning tactics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
after that; having attained the object of his visit, and pleted the arrangements, there was obviously nothing more to stay for. He had scarcely disappeared, however, be- fore there was another step on the piazza. This time it was Mrs. Singleton, the lovely widow in the next block. “T hear you are going to stay at home this summer,” said Mrs. Singleton. “How charming! And how original. By the way, you know Tixie, my lovely little dog. Of course I could send him to a veterinarian; but isn’t that horrid!” “Don't do it him. Always glad to have dogs around “He's such a dear By the end of the day, the Gansons found their original company reinforced by twenty chickens, two dogs, a cat, a parrot, a second-hand automobile that wouldn't work, and goat. You did it!” exclaimed Mrs. Ganson tearfully. ‘You didn’t give me time to make any excuses; you just went ahead and let them all impose upon you. And the worst of it is, I shall have to take care of them all.” nson’s voice was full of apology. Never mind!” he replied. ** It will make things interestin no chance for us to sit around and mope. [will help you, dearie The following morning he had scarcely sat down to break- fast when his telephone bell rang Board of Health JL, SS said Ganson. “We'll take Great lover of dogs.” IT CANT BE DONE Gwendolyn —1 don't believe Cholly’s ever done anything to be ashamed of. Gladys He's never done anything at all! How could he? It was the President of the + “Sorry to bother you, Mr. Ganson ve been making complaints about you couple of roosters who wake then up at all hours of the m y say you have a MAKING HIMSELF SOLID Tom Why did you eat the cake she baked? Harry —I wanted to make myself solid. Tom—Did you succeed? Harry 1 should say so! a dog that keeps them up nearly all night and a parrot that squawks so much during the day time that they can’t hear themselves think.” “Neighbors! all gone away.” “Yes, but their houses have been rented for the summer. The man who has taken Mr. Banderly’s house, for example, says he will shoot that rooster.” Ganson started back into the dining-room to tell his w shouted Ganson. “Why, my neighbors have She was interviewing the cook “Yes, ma‘am,” said that individual, you're going to stay at home all summer, [shall expect 2 course, ma'am, if vacation. 1 Ganson waited to hear non “Vou bet you'll take a vaca “And it will bea long one, too. Get ready to leave tomorrow morning.” “he shouted. Then he turned to his wife. “In the course of the next twelve hours,” he said, “T shall personally interview a veterinarian, a bird fancier, a farmer and a garage, to say nothing of a railroad company and a high- rt. Money is no object. Neighbors don’t I propose to get away from this place by nine o'clock sorrow morning, bag and baggage. Can you get ready? Vil be ready, my dear.” seplicd Mrs. Ganson, and as he hurried off she said thoughtfully to herself “What's the use of having neighbors if you can’t get them to help you out when your husband insists upon sticking at home?" Campaign pocts have nothing on the campaign managers when it comes to courting the Mooses,