Judge, 1920-01-10 · page 9 of 36
Judge — January 10, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "For His Mother's Sake" - Judge Magazine Story This page presents a sentimental short story by Sophie Louise Wenzel accompanying two illustrations. The narrative depicts a social-issue theme common to early 20th-century literature: a tramp (homeless wanderer) appeals to a well-to-do woman for food. The story's "twist" relies on period attitudes toward poverty and charity. The Lady initially dismisses the tramp as lazy and a beggar, refusing him harshly. However, when he invokes his mother—claiming he seeks the food "for his mother's sake"—her stern demeanor softens. She provides him a meal and hot cider. The satire is gentle rather than biting: it critiques how the wealthy rationalize selective charity, showing that emotional appeals ("mother") succeed where direct need fails. The tramp's calculated invocation of motherhood manipulates the Lady's sentimentality, exposing the arbitrary nature of her charitable impulses. The story suggests that genuine need matters less than the *narrative frame* through which need is presented.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Deven by CALs ine se Vi Wor Wann Pors For His Mother's Sake By Sormme Lovise Wenxzet sutof the — earn it.” him approach She bustled sas he sw vady’, pe as whist y road. The wered kitchen window, about, and soon placed a stea lunch on the kitchen table. He fell to it with a re There was a spicy odor of gingerbread wafting from — that gave her housewifely heart pleasure to see the kitchen window, and the Tramp sniffes air as ady, if you de mind my saying it,” he said, he lifted the gate latch. He “vou remind me of my alk und to the kitchen j mother. She would never or, spied the Lady, and se offer a needy, hungry man a quickly doffed his hat ii. bowl of cold coffee and a “Lady, can you spare a pee z 7 hunk of hard bread.” warm bite to al y man?" | | The Lady smiled) cheer he | t,he continued, | tating a little. “Ta thirsty, and my throat is Iry. “TP have many tramp in the cold be The Lady frowned sternly “1 never feed beggars ‘I do work.” he replied ile to vy do you not work?” Wont ! i | gravely. “Through rainand + | sunshine, spring and winter, | Hi} ntfall. Would you m | walk many long miles ii! 4 giving me a mug of cider? Sometimes [am hungry and j J not give it to cannotobtain any food;some- | ou,” d severely; times | am tired, with no ' for the sake of vour moth Iwill, [like a boy who re- members his mother.” She filled a mug ce to rest; and sometimes. Il, sometimes I am lone “ 7 You are lazy,’ she rant, foaming ci ped. “Twill give you a Pens ty I. B. Peto a that stood ni lunch, bee ce you look as He Gor tae Rieawe Nesuew ve Onc he thanked herp 9