Judge, 1919-05-31 · page 11 of 36
Judge — May 31, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers **"Coaching an Author"** satirizes early 20th-century commercial publishing. Daniel Defoe (author of *Robinson Crusoe*) complains to a publisher that he lacks modern marketing savvy. The publisher responds by showing how successful books exploit a single concept across multiple genres—rebranding *Robinson Crusoe* as sports stories ("With Bat and Glove"), college tales ("Riding the Goat"), Boy Scout adventures, aviation stories, and submarine tales. The joke: literary merit is irrelevant; publishers cynically milk profitable formulas by slapping familiar titles onto trendy subjects. The final threat to eventually republish the original under a new gimmicky title mocks both publisher opportunism and audience gullibility. **"Abbreviated"** jokes about military life. A newly drafted soldier stands under an awning during a cold night rather than patrol his post properly, claiming he won't walk outside in just his underwear (B.V.D. = a brand of men's undergarments/undershirts). The humor relies on the recruit's cheeky disregard for orders and the absurdity of army-issued thin coats. **"Modernity"** is a brief joke about children learning to fly (airplanes) before walking—reflecting aviation's newness as a cultural phenomenon.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wuen tHe Aeroptane Hancar Ipea Hits Home Coaching an Author By Harry Hasirton HE author of “Robinson Crusoe” was filled with an excess of gloom. “T have just been talking to a modern writer for boys,” he said, “and I am convinced that I missed about all the tricks there ever were. I thought I had done a good literary job until that chap came along and put me wise. Now I know that I am utterly shy in the commercial instinct, which is the successful story- writer’s chief stock in trade.” But it was not too late, fortunately overheard Mr. De Foe’s remarks The next season the following juvenile books ap- peared in all book departments: With Bat and Glove, or Robinson Crusoe at Lake- A publisher side Academy. Ten Yards to Gain, or Robinson Crusoe on the Lake- side Gridiron. Riding the Goat, or Robinson Crusoe and the Lake- side Fraternities. Goal to Hockey Ice. In Forest and Field, or Robinson Crusoe among the Boy Scouts. Above the Clouds, or Robinson Crusoe among the Aviators. Beneath the Waves, or Robinson Crusoe after Sub- marines “Now,” said his publisher, “after everybody has forgotten it, we'll spring your original book under the title of ‘Lost in the South Seas, or the Crusoe Boys on a Desert Island.’ The trouble with you, Mr. De Foe, has been that you are altogether too literary to succeed as an author. Goal, or Robinson Crusoe on the Abbreviated By Lanct. Faaxets Buyer, U.S. A HE soldiers at Camp Cus ter, Mich., were issuec short Mackinaw coats so much in vogue the last few years. It was on a cold and stormy night when Private Britt, recently in- ducted into the serv sentinel on post. The officer of the day in making his rounds found him under the shelter of a nearby awning. The officer asked him for his general orders. He recited them to include “To walk my post ina military manner,” when the officer in- terrupted, saying, “Well, why don’t you carry out your orders was a and walk your post?” To which Britt replied, “Good night, Captain, you don’t ex pect a fellow to walk his post in a B. V. D. coat on a night like this, do you?” Universal Patronage Ever notice it? No kid is ever so dinky but some nice old lady stops him on the street and says, “My, my! What a big boy you're getting to be!” Modernity Letchwooth—Can your little boy walk yet? Heckler—Walk? Why, the kid's learning to fly! What d'ye think 0° that The F in that book, ie rgot all about the comicbooks.com