Judge, 1918-11-30 · page 13 of 32
Judge — November 30, 1918 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Thrust and Parry" Analysis This is a domestic humor piece about marital psychology. Mrs. B. phones her husband Mr. B. disguising her voice to invite "Jack" to dinner, testing whether he'll recognize her. He accepts the invitation without identifying her, claiming afterward he knew it was her all along—though his strange facial expression suggests otherwise. The joke's satirical point: marital uncertainty and the games couples play. Mrs. B. now doubts whether her husband truly recognized her or was simply caught off-guard. Mr. B. wonders if she suspects he *didn't* recognize her. Both parties are left uncertain, trapped in plausible deniability. The lower cartoon, captioned "Dachshunds Were Quite the Rage in the Hun Army," depicts a crowded street scene with numerous dachshunds, satirizing German military fashion or culture. "Hun" references Germany/Germans during WWI era, suggesting this publication's anti-German sentiment typical of American magazines during that period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thrust and Parry By Euta M. Suerru 'T seemed to Mrs. B. one day that a little dinner in town that eve- ning with Mr. B. would be decidedly agreeable. Upon obtaining his office number, Mrs. B.’s end of the conversation ran thus: (Disguised voice) —‘‘Hello, is this Mr. B.?” Pause. (Sweet- ly) “Hello, Jack! I game, too) That’s fine! How about Sherry’s at six?” (Pause) “How will you know me? Oh, I'll wear a bunch of violets! Bye-bye ’till six.” Mrs. B. arrived at the appointed place to find Mr. B. already there—a most unusual occurr- ence. At her soft “Jack” he turned quickly and she saw, or thought she saw, a strange expression flit for an instant just called up to ask you if you have any- thing on for to- night?” “That’s good. How about a little dinner some- where?” “No, I’m not going to tell you who’s talking. Aren’t you sport enough to take a chance?” “T thought so. But (hesitatingly) what will you tell your wife?” (Expectant pause filled with changing expression) ‘“‘Oh—so it’s understood if you don’t go home to dinner that you’re detained at the office? Oh, yes, I see! (Breathlessly—then brightening as the thought flashes through her mind that he’s playing the Drown by Cuantes A. H Dectoen Cuecxs Were Quite tHe Race ix tHe Hun Arwy, Accorninc To Fatt Fasmon Reports. across his face, as he took in her own dain- ty person and the violets, but he smiled, and straightway became his own jolly self. During the dinner, Mrs. B. looked across at Mr. B., smiled and said sweetly, “And you knew all the time it was I who was talking to you?” “Sure” came emphatically from across the table. Yet somehow the memory of that strange expression lingers, and Mrs. B. is wondering if he really did or didn’t—know, and Mr. B. is wondering if she does or doesn’t—suspect! ERICAN) CAL Cg Deutscutanp Unter ALLES comicbooks.com ~— ss rn a ee een es ee ce ce ae