Judge, 1919-02-08 · page 7 of 32
Judge — February 8, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Business Man's Dream" Explanation This page satirizes the unrealistic fantasies of American businessmen in the post-WWI era. The main story depicts an absurdly perfect day: employees arrive on time and behave respectfully, the stenographer doesn't gossip, lunch crowds are manageable, staff work late without complaint, and home life is ideal—wife prepared dinner, children didn't steal his tobacco. The punchline reveals it's a dream; he actually oversleeps and panics about missing his train. The top cartoon depicts a war-weary soldier (identified by military decorations: D.S.C., Croix de Guerre) complaining about sore feet now that WWI has ended—implying soldiers faced harsh conditions during combat and expect relief in peacetime. The "golden egg" goose illustration is a visual joke about unrealistic expectations, referencing Aesop's fable about killing the goose that laid golden eggs—a metaphor for destroying something valuable through impatience or greed. Together, these pieces mock both postwar disillusionment and the impossibly optimistic expectations businessmen held about returning to normalcy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drecn by Joux Conscunn “What is it, Ed? New dancestep or sore fect?” Corporal McCarthy, D. S.C. c de Guerre, cte,, ¢te.—Sore fect! I'll go steppin’ on a mine 'r a live dud 'r somethin’! Naw! Cold ones. Now that th’ war’s over | know darn well * A Business Man’s Dream By Cuarces H. Witpripce SE at 8.30 A. M., bathed, shaved and break- leisurely, and in spite of all caught the 9.05 train without rushing to the station. The conduc- tor was civil and passed a few sprightly remarks about the weather. My stenographer was on time and did not waste half the morning in the dress- ing room. She did not chew any gum and was polite when asked a question. I did not hear her tell- ing the office boy where she had been on the previous evening. The office boy only took a rea- sonable time to go the messages of the day. He did not complain of being overworked nor ask for a raise of salary. He also had ona clean collar and had a clean hand- kerchief. The lunchroom I usually fre- quent was not crowded to the point of suffocation. They were able to serve most of the things on ‘ the menu card. The waitresses did pron by Laxo Camron not drop any dishes. Hen—The goose that During the afternoon I had was only a piker! many telephone calls and the people calling were in- variably considerate. The staff did not leave until 5.o1 P. M. The day’s business was good and left no apparent strain upon me. The train home wason time. Myslippers were warm- ing by the fireside when I reached home. Dinner was ready to be Served. My wife had made no ap- pointment for the evening. The chil- dren had not carried off my tobacco jar and favorite pipe. The evening papers were laid by my chair ready for use. I was perfectly happy. “Good Lord! Kate, it’s a quar- tertonine! I shall never make that train. I have to see Peters today and he won’t wait. Oh, h: si] have been dreaming again!” Asking Too Much Hewitt—When you are in Rome, you must do as the Romans do. Jewett—I should hate to have that laid the golden egg I 5 rule apply if I ever got to Berlin. comicbooks.com