Judge, 1916-10-21 · page 6 of 32
Judge — October 21, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical dialogue depicts a debate between **Max Markowitz** (a Jewish businessman/skirt manufacturer) and **Henry** (his friend) about joining social clubs. The humor targets **class pretension and American social climbing**. Henry urges Markowitz to join clubs for sociability and status, citing prestigious old families and high-class connections. Markowitz refuses, mocking the absurdity: clubs are either business fronts (like Dun's or Bradstreet's credit ratings in formal dress) or repositories of fake prestige—people with fancy names but empty bank accounts, kept as "figure heads." The satire criticizes how Americans waste time worshipping the past ("wine from 1876") while scrambling for future status, when they should focus on present reality. Markowitz's final point—people have "holes in their carpets or in their heads"—suggests this status-seeking reflects intellectual poverty. The title "The Good Man's Sorrow" implies Markowitz's tragedy: being sensible and frugal in a society obsessed with hollow social standing.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sure I can make a good members from politician clubs ast season’s number when speech if I want to. I’m not it comes to the speeching line. Ain’t I made a fine speech in by Freedman Bros. ughter’s wedding what made a man what just came over from Russland and is a great Hebrew scholar say that I must be a great lawyer? But even if I am a great speecher I wouldn't do it for a politician club. Do you think I want to be one of them fellers standing by the club house with a cigar or tooth-pick on one side of my face and my hat on the other side of my head, talking like President Wilson just asked me to be ambassador to and, while I have only a nickel in my pocket? Oser!” “You're such a good knocker for clubs,” suggested Hei “that if one of them club presidents knew it, they would surely hang you on their door. But even if you ain’t in love with politician clubs, ain’t there other clubs like business, charity clubs, swell social clubs—" repeated Marko- wilz. lelub?) Notting but a Dun’s or Bradstreet’s in full dress. I got good enough rating by business in the day time. Why should I bother about my stand- ing in the night time?” “But look at the high class people you meet from the old families.” argued Henry. “Money ain’t everything.” “Ha, Ha! Money ain't everything!” laughed Markowitz mockingly. “Do you think a man with no money can belong to them big clubs? There a few fellers, members, whose names are fancier than their bank accounts, but them don’t figure except as figure heads, They are them kind what’ always put in front in the list of members but behind in the payment of dues. Their names are used like old labels on wine bot- tes. People like to sit around with wine from 1876 and people from 1776. Do you know, Henry, that people waste a lot of time falling on their knees for what's gone and trying to run ahead of what's coming? Bctween you and me, if people would only try to keep step with the times there wouldn't be so many holes in their carpets or in their heads either.” “Max Markowitz!” cried Henry with TS sham astonishment. “You are talking like a philiso not like a skoit manufacturer. But what’s getting ah running behind got to do with becoming a club member? Even if you ain’t an otomobile salesman or a realestate dealer, a man should be sociable and mix with other people A man what lives between people should go betweer peop! and not stick in the house all the time. Max, join a club!” “Nonsense,” replied Markowitz, “I got better use for twen ty-five or fifty dollars than pay it to them clubs, What can 1 do there? I wouldn't join them even if T could make « mil lion dollars.” ud and THE GOOD MAN'S SORROW comicbooks.go!