Judge, 1920-02-14 · page 41 of 44
Judge — February 14, 1920 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem sequence by Hal Davis uses multiple voices—a boy, his sister, mother, and father—to satirize post-World War I inflation and changing consumer values. Each speaker reveals how a single dollar has lost purchasing power. The **boy** imagines candy and sodas; the **sister** complains school clothes are unaffordable; the **mother** laments that meat prices have soared (a rib roast that once fed a family now costs prohibitively); and the **father** portrays himself as financially victimized by wife and children's demands, needing "$500 bones to join the Bubbles Club." The satire targets **economic hardship** following the war and the **gendered dynamics** of family spending—women and children depicted as frivolous consumers draining the male breadwinner. The repeated emphasis on what a dollar *cannot* buy underscores **serious inflation** affecting 1920 American households, though filtered through humor and caricature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
February 14, 1920 e a jog showing differ models in use.” 3090 in stock. 1p from dealer of factory OLD TOWN CANOE COMPANY. 1942 Main St., Old Town, Maine, U.S. A. by W. 0. Wasox + A. ler—How Sonnets to a Dollar By ths I (By young William) Davis ? FF Lhad one buck t’ spend, I’d sure be ticked; Why, that’s more money than I ever had At once. Oh, Gosh! but wouldn’t Ibe glad! I'd buy that top whut Bricky Spore has picked At Templeton’s, cause yesterday he sicked His dog on me an’ made me awful mad For Mr. Hartenheimer, Mary’s dad yelled at me and said, “ Bet you got licked.”” GET WELL-BE YOUNG-GROW TALL) University discovery Is the most Important health invention of remakes ad rejuvenates the Human ody. I An’ then I’d buy a quarter’s worth uv pop, An’ ten uv them good suckers down at King’s, An’ I'd drink choc’lit sodies till I’d drop, An’ still have plenty left fer lots uv things Phere ain't nd t’ whut a dollar ’Il It makes a reg'lar feller out a’ you. iH (By sister Mar Agnes) A dollar’: "T won't buy yt so Many nov \ a thing that J would wear At school. The « yest r verybody pays Ruth Hays nd Mildred one nineteen least two-hity her hose Pays three ore sir Pays twelve for shoes. Why, th pair OF Silko gloves cost two fourteen A dollar is a It seems to me nighty little thi Tear The dear old dear, gocs When I bone him bad It takes a d uy the tsee why my dad with such a bi ten—why, that’s not ilmost every d. undaes that I store away itl \ cheek for ninety bones sickly s The governor declined to make it ut he’s out to get me sore und at college here. Al It’s a frig! lately—ripy a igure th On sticking r Old Guy, just go the limit The way he trims ‘em tore When I told him that there were only four Men in our frat spent less than I—good Night! \ dollar looks like I wish to John h ng His comprehensi One buck won't buy chow I'll date her up tonight though, anyhow y to the Guy ne up here and sec \ ten-spot is nasacoin. Gol-lec! the sweets for Mabel’s bove He I\ (My Mother) Ten years ago a dollar bill would buy \ rib-roast big enough to choke a whale But prices now are such—well, I gro’ When I start out with even three to try To get some good pork chops, for fear some sly Old butcher’s boosted prices. Surely they Il Come down next year. Some stuff 1 buy by nfail It’s all that’s left for women such as I My Mary’s clothes are something awful, too And John’s in college where it costs so dear; Poor Will's distracted with the bills—gets blue And says he fears we'll have to move from here. I've slipped aside a hundred fifty though To get that suit at Vandervert’s know. you | Georee FROST CO. MAKERS BOSTON By Father) Come here. you fraud, you jingling. wheel Of pewter. Let me feel you just a bit Once you were fit lud, like me—I feel. 1 John and Mary squeal Each hour I’m hit For five or ter you gladly flit, While not a sou is left me in the deal. away W you're J When Mother. Bill, s For you my han A man’s the goat in modem family life Old dollar, you're the cause of all his glee; His daughter, sons and e’en his loving wife Are leagued against him firmly. Look at me, Right now I need five hundred bones to join The Bubbles Club. To Live, it takes some 2 by Laxe Catemras + YOUR THROAT & VOICE Ge ror ; MEN 1GARS “MADE AT KEY WEST.— comicbooks.com