Judge, 1919-07-12 · page 8 of 36
Judge — July 12, 1919 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# A Nervy Applicant & Related Content **"A Nervy Applicant"** satirizes workplace salary expectations during the early 20th century. A young job applicant confidently lists impressive qualifications—secretarial work, bookkeeping, correspondence, advertising, house-organ layout, and sales experience—expecting $30 weekly. The manager is shocked, gasping that this wage equals what they pay *unskilled laborers*. The joke mocks the applicant's audacity in demanding high pay despite being an entry-level worker, while also reflecting employers' resistance to fair compensation. It reflects era tensions over worker expectations versus employer stinginess. **Other content** includes "The Seven Stages of Amativeness" (romantic relationship types), a photo-caption joke about "Madam Takes the Morning Air," and a humorous poem titled "Help!" complaining about neighbors' cacophonous amateur musical performances—factory whistles, cornets, accordions, and drum corps disturbing the peace.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Nervy Applicant RB “VES. we are in need of men.” said the general manager “What are your qualifications? What can you « “T have had office experience in a secretarial cay I understand bookkeeping and accounting,” said the yc applicant. “How are you at correspondence? Can you write a good business letter, one that will be read?” “TL have letters of recommendation which will convince you, I think, that I am an excellent correspondent.” now anything about advertising and printing? Cou'd you write and lay out our house orgah for us?” “In my last place of employment, I got out their Fouse organ for three years, in addition to my other work.” “Then, I presume, you know something of salesman- Harry Hawitto ship.” “A little, sir. [ was at one time inent sales manager.” “You appear to have had varied and valuable experi ence. and I shouldn't wonder if we could place you What salary would you expect?” “T thirk I should have at least $30 a week to start.” The general menager gave a gasp “Forty per week!” he cried. “Why, my dear bc surely can’t expect that! That is as much as we are f our unskilled labor! secretary to a prom you ying The Seven Stages of Amativeness The somewhat-too-beautifui iove The not-altogether-satisfactory love. The slightly-over-strenuous love, The far-too-formal love. The nearly-utterly-perfect love, The rather-too-fascinating love. Mapam Takes the Morninc Air The bevond-any-doubt love. James, so we'll drive Help! Giovines Dawe by P. D. Jouxss like rain this morr * Tt loo Help! By Coxwin H HE value of harmonics as a substitute tor tonics Has been tried out on the savage and his breast wa soothed to rest But no one with good hearing would feel old Morpheus nearing When our neighbors try for honors in their nightly music fest Betore our dinner’s finished or the daylight is diminished We are favored with the “Sextette” on a factory-whistle flute: And ere Lucia quits us a frightful discord hits us As a bursting young cornetist picks “The Rosary” to toot. the orchestra starts growing, like midnight roosters crowing: Accordions and tubas and organs come to life On the north they're turkey-trottin’ while some old maid sings “Forgotten” And the leader of a drum corps plays chromatics on his fife Then Since they all insist on playing, we spend our evenings praying We're praying for a Sousa or a Thomas or a Stock; Any one who's fit to lead 'em; if it calls for two we'll feed ‘em And build a sound-proof band stand in the middle of the block. The Cop—I wonder where she Drowa by H. K. Ear comicbooks.com