Judge, 1917-04-07 · page 6 of 28
Judge — April 7, 1917 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece depicts a conversation between **Max Markowitz** (a skirt manufacturer) and **Henry Shapiro** about visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The humor centers on class contrast and materialistic attitudes. Markowitz complains the museum is expensive and boring, preferring to spend money on food. Henry responds with mock-refined criticism, lecturing about the museum's business model and high costs—the satire suggesting wealthy businessmen view cultural institutions primarily through a commercial lens rather than artistic appreciation. The cartoon critiques early 20th-century American nouveaux riches who treat prestigious institutions as status symbols while remaining fundamentally indifferent to genuine art. The bottom illustration appears unrelated, showing a street scene with children and an adult.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aer MARKOWITZ AND HENR Y— Discuss a Treat in the Museum of Art Ry LOU RAR 66] AST SATURDAY, T treated you to themselves by mummies just like lowbrows by: prizefights, theayter; nu, where are we going this pt a little business where they sell postal cards from paint- c afternoon?” inquired Henry Shapiro the d catalogues from crockery. And you, you are always bookkeeper, of his boss and brother-in-law, ashamed of business, and your head is so full with baseballs y Max Markowitz, the skirt manufacturer, plainly — and submarines, like a press agent is full of language with stories. hinting that it was the latter’s turn to do the — Of course, they don’t run this business like a regela business honors. man. They don’t keep a quarter of the stock what they could if [ know myself,” retorted Markowitz sell yet. Look them fools don’t keep by their stand, no roller with a loud yawn. “I feel so sleepy ——” skates for lots of people what want to see the whole museum “Yes, so sleepy like a winner by poker, when the losers in five minutes. They ain’t got no rolling chairs like by At- lantic City for engaged couples what come to see the museum ant an hour's extension,” broke in Henry, sarcastically. Suppose we go to one of them afternoon dances what’s named in cach other's eyes. Not even a single shock absorber for at don't follow in its footsteps, Let's just go Continued on second page fullescing) ' after tea, but w in and watch!” And what will Minnie say, when she hears in her winter country that I’m running around so free like abachelor?” demanded Markowitz.“ Lain’t no tango- dance watcher and no lady-drink shicker. So all you ant me is to spend an afternoon? Sure I'll spend there an afternoon, but with a month’s expenses on the side. For a cheese sandwich—two crackers and a hole of Swiss-cheese—they charge you sixty cents; for six peas they charge you a quarter; and for a thimble of schnapss, a half a dollar. So a fresser like you, what can eat sandwicches like peanuts, can eat into my pocket- book like a se/neui into watermelon. Honest, Henry, I don’t feel like going no place. Let’s take a ks better and go in to see that wonderful Museum of Art. I ain’t been in there since [ was a greenhorn and I hoid they opened up another loft there.” “Alleright, Max, 'll be a sport. I'll go with you to the Museum,” calmly declared Henry after a mo- ment’s hesitation, during which his face flushed deeply from trying to suppress an outburst of anger against his brother-in-law. “You sec, Henry,” lectured the skirt manu- facturer in the tone of the pedagogue, as they entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art, about a hove Fs 2 2 Stranger—Why don't you try to cheer him up? half an hour later, “business is business. Even Little Girl—Say. did you ever try to cheer anybody up who'd ett by this high-class place, where highbrows enjoy five bananas an’ a half pound o' citron candy?