Judge, 1918-08-17 · page 10 of 32
Judge — August 17, 1918 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "At the Soda Fountain" - Analysis This is a humorous dialogue (not political satire) by Max Mearystax depicting two young women, Maybelle and Pauline, unable to decide what ice cream or sundae to order at a soda fountain despite the clerk's offerings. The joke centers on their indecision: they vacillate endlessly, worry about trying unfamiliar flavors, ask repeated questions, and ultimately decide to leave and return later with a printed menu. The satire targets early 20th-century consumer culture and female decision-making—the abundance of choices paradoxically makes selection harder. There's gentle mockery of women's perceived tendency toward indecision and concern with fashion in their consumption habits. The unrelated caption at page bottom referencing Germans appears disconnected and likely reflects WWI-era anti-German sentiment common in Judge magazine during that period, though its connection to this story is unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
by Hasivtos Wintiaus Nervous Tra: orpedo hits ler—Mind you At the Soda Fountain By Max Mearystax AY BELLE (looking up at the list of ices on Ll the white marble slab)—I hardly know just what I do want. If there were fewer of them it would be easier to choose. Let’s see what they have: six different kinds of sundaes and—O, did you ever try cherry sun- dae with hot chocolate over it? It’s delicious but a bit cloying. So rich, you know. I believe that I will have—no, I won’t, either! I had it once and—I wonder if that pineapple and- what’s peach pouffe? It sounds good, but I hate to ven- ture on new things unless I know something about them. A friend of mine told me of a new sundae she had here and I can’t remember the name of it. L wonder if you—— The Man—We have a new kind almost every day, Miss. Maybelle—Yes, 1 suppose so. I believe I will have— what kind you going to have? Pauline—I hardly know. I wonder if that—some one was telling me about a canteloupe sundae with crushed straw- berries and whipped cream that was lovely. Have you that here? No? I thought she said it was here she got it. It quecrest mixtures nowadays? I believe that I will have—no, I won't cither. I remember now that it has a touch of brandy in it, and do you know that even the little brandy there is in an ice goes right to my head! I think that I will have—what you going to have? Maybelle—I have about decided to have—I tell you, dear, suppose each of us try something we never had be- fore, and you taste of mine and I'll taste of yours and sce how we like it? Or would you rather—that “Nut Dream” sounds nice. Suppose I take that and you take—what is there on the list that you never had? How about that “Fudge Fancy’? It doesn’t sound like anice. We'll find out. Oh, Mr. Man! Is that “Fudge Fancy” an ice? Everything here is an ice of some kind? I thought so, It’s probably melted fudge poured over some kind of ice cream with a few chopped nuts on top and maybe a little dab of something to make it odd. I don’t suppose we would like it if we ordered it. I guess, after all, it’s best to stick to the things you know. I know I paid an extra price for a fancy ice once and I couldn't eat it after I got it. I believe I will try some of —no, I won't either. What you going to hav Pauline—I can’t make up my mind. Somehow I don’t feel very ice-creamy or college-icey or soda- watery to-day and I Maybelle—Oh, I tell you, dear. Suppose we have our luncheon first and come back here and get an ice for dessert? I often do that when I’m lunching down town. The man will give us a printed list of what they have, and we can decide at the restaurant without being hurried about it. Here, Mr. Man, will you give us one of your printed lists of ices and we will come back and choose something after we have our luncheon, a kind of a dessert, you know. sounds queer, but she said you'd be surprised at how nice it was. Don’t they have the “Please, God, bless everybody but the Germans, and do the opposite to them. Amen.” comicbooks.com