Judge, 1918-09-21 · page 5 of 32
Judge — September 21, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Survival of the Fitting" - Judge Magazine This satirical illustrated story by Harry Irving Shumway concerns a men's clothing salesman (Mr. McWhortle) struggling to fit a difficult customer for a suit. The cartoon's humor centers on the contrast between McWhortle's patience and professionalism versus the customer's pickiness and emotional investment in finding the "perfect" garment. The headline "The Happy Medium" and subtitle "He Beams and Places One Hand Affectionately on Your Shoulder" suggest the salesman's practiced charm. The story satirizes both retail customer service and men's obsessive concern with clothing fit—treating an ordinary suit purchase as a momentous, nearly existential quest. It's gentle satire on masculine vanity and consumer culture.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
nediately MeWhortle but it seem yrthy ¢ Nothi Whortle may world MecWhor place of this kind with many mi b om nowhe He is not the has on the best clothes in the ¢ ducer. You tell him that you be aits ace JUDGE “THE HAPPY AIEDIUM” He Beams ano Peaces One Hanno Areretioxytery ox Your Suoutper The Survival of the Fitting By Harry Trvinc Suumway Il ustrations by Witrreo Jones HERE are strong men, men with iron wills, s,and is so intent on his task that he is deaf to all who can go into she personally things. What so fascinates a man about pants that select a suit of c s that they really he s himself to the outside world is a mystery, but want. But th ire rare, in fact almost =o maybe Mr. McWhortle is a pants fancier. imaginary. The avers man totter Finally he is induced to come forward and the parted to him that the gentleman wishes a sui “Yessir. Stepthiswaysir,” rattles Mr. McWhor He leads you down aisle after aisle of suits st vhe on hangers and finally bri up at some place which seems to appeal to him “Now what kind of a suit did you wish?” he vings, only to be up by a Personage who scems to 1an who owns the store, altho lace. He is thei ave come in there f the purpose of buying a suit; not a surprising statement — you, quite pleasantly make, but it seems to fill the introducer with a great Why he asks this, Heaven only knows. Subsequent He 1 places one hand affectionately events tell you that it makes no difference to |} on your be begins to pa Mr you want. If he comments on it at i ny men about the disparaging a way that you are ashamed at MeWhortle is the onl asked for such a suit. Nobody is wea I kind ou of suit, and you blush painfully at having made such a Boy i He makes a dart into a k one forth. Then he hold wazing at it admiringly line of suits and f out at arm’s-lengt irs glisten in his eyes, so joing doing \ But n é Po 2 me tS eS a a ~ Ta comicbooks.com