Judge, 1919-03-29 · page 5 of 32
Judge — March 29, 1919 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "The Luncheon Hour" This is a romantic short story by Mary Graham Bonner with decorative illustrations by Albert Hencke, not political satire. The narrative depicts a Parisian café scene where a woman named Genevieve waits for her gentleman caller, Larry, who arrives late. The story explores period attitudes about courtship: Genevieve's maid Marie notes that men "like to be kept waiting" and that lateness makes women "devoted." When Larry arrives, he compliments Genevieve's new bonnet, and she playfully scolds his tardiness while clearly delighted by his attention. The accompanying illustrations show the café setting and a final dinner scene. This appears to be light romantic fiction typical of Judge magazine's broader content mix beyond political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Luncheon Hour By Mary Granam Bonner Decoration by Ausert Hexcxt HE gentleman is here, mademoiselle,” said old Maric, as she bowed to Genevieve. “Has he been waiting long?” asked Genevieve anxiously. “Only five minutes.” Marie answered witha shrug. “But they like to be kept waiting,” she added knowingly. “It makes them so mad—oh, so mad!—and so devoted And she threw up her arms with an expression of ecstasy. “I'm late. I couldn’t help it,” Genevieve murmured, and Marie, always sympathetic and understanding, nodded. “It’s those husbands and home ties,” Maric was saying to herself. “They’re always interfering and making a beautiful lady sad.” Genevieve had passed the many tables, and had gone into the back room. In the summer time this room was opened to the step and the cats walked on the tops of the nearby fences; occasionally they jumped down to a table to the amusement of the frequenters of the place, and the fear and surprise of visitors there for the first time. The tables she passed were filled with men and girls, some in would-be bohemian garb; but a majority were dressed smartly and with respect to fashion. Only their looks and meaning glances were old—old as the hills—old ever since there have been men and girls in the world, back to the days of Eden. ‘The air was thick with smoke, and there were bottles of red wine on every table. But none of these things were new to Genevieve. At last she reached a little corner table in the rear. “Bon jour, ma petite! Little one, you look so ravishing today! I sce! A new bonnet! That’s why you’re late. You have been spending hours choosing which bonnet I will love you in the best, is it not so? Eh? Ah, naughty one! You must not deny it!” . Genevieve blushed slightly as she threw off her fur and said half to the wall and half to the man. “So you like it, do you?” “Oh, you sly one!” he answered, “you know very well I like it. You look so captivating in it. Ah, I love you so!” He pressed her hand to his lips. No one minded in Mademoiselle Marie's. “Larry,” she said, “I am truly sorry to have been late. I couldn’t help it. I was so busy. Were you very impatient?” “Impatient?” Larry repeated, “I’m always impatient for you, my dear. But it only made me the keener to see you. The more eager to watch you walk through these rooms with your head held high and your fur thrown back. Oh, you are so wonderful! I love you so!” “You're absurd today, Larry!” But Genevieve was pleased. How he did love her! How blissful it all was! Mademoiselle Marie’s, the dear, comicbooks.com