Judge, 1920-02-28 · page 8 of 36
Judge — February 28, 1920 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This satirical page contains three distinct pieces mocking early 20th-century American trends and attitudes: **"The New Era"** (top): Satirizes how women blindly adopt fashions inspired by celebrity visitors. When Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck's play *The Blue Bird* premiered in America, women obsessively purchased blue-bird embroidered lingerie and accessories. The satire suggests this creates financial strain on husbands ("father will have to play the rôle of a very blue old bird"). The proposed solution—forcing distinguished visitors to dress plainly—humorously exaggerates the problem's perceived severity. **"William Highpocket" dialogue**: A rural character reports his three sons returning from World War I now pursue modern working-class careers (railroader, coal miner, longshoreman) rather than traditional professions (law, medicine, clergy). The store-keeper's amazement at these "perfessions" reflects changing post-war labor and social attitudes. **"Just a Bit"**: A quick joke about Jackson's extreme slowness—so slow that an elephant could bathe while he washes his face. The page satirizes both frivolous fashion trends and evolving post-war social expectations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
. that real estate n jon and I didn’t be cap on straight. Whereupon, the women bought new hats to wear tilted. And now it’s Maeterlinck’s blue birds. Maeterlinck came over to see his opera put on, and he’s not really to blame for the new fad. But every shop in the country is showing blue birds now, chiefly in the form of em- broidery on lingerie. Just because poor Macterlinck came over to put on his Blue Bird, every woman thinks she must put on a few blue birds, too. And when chemise, a blue-bird teddy-bear and a blue-bird cami- sole warble to the tune of about 486, you can sce where father will have to play the réle of a very blue old bird for quite some time. here’s only one way to put a stop to this sort of thing. Make every distinguished male visitor to this country take an oath to wear nothing while here except a black derby and a sack suit, and make every distinguished feminine visitor put on a gingham wrapper and one of those old-fashioned crocheted fascinators If they will agree to that, the and the fashion sharks won't be quick to adopt their ideas And consequently, domestic finances will be restored to a basis of peace—with resere vations. milliners quite so Tact “You told me before we were married that you would become famous,” sobbed the wife. “What more fame could a man desire than to xe known as your husband?” inquired the hus oand gently, And, lo, she was comforted 2 ql a! ll a blue-bird envelope ' Era bf HIGHPOCKET had in to the Comers for plug of tobacco, a horseshoe for his cradling scythe The Willa driven Tiny New and a hone j “Lhear,” stid the store-keeper. “that 1 vore three boys has come back from the - War’ Vas. Back. All three.” And what air they agoin’ tu do now William?” . verteshions “They has gon { They're smart, then The store-keeper stared under his 4 glasses. feshions!”” “Yas. Perfeshions. No selves to a shadder like I done “Lawyers?” “Naw!” snorted pocket, in disdain. “Doctors?” “Naw!” 4 “Preachers?” “And starve to death? “Steenographers, typewriters, keepers, school-teachers, polities “John, you're forty year ahind o° the times. One o’ my boys is agoin’ in to be a railroader, another is agoin’ to be 1. coal miner, and the other is agoin’ to be a longshoreman. Le’s have the tobacker, John.” kin’ their William High. Naw sirree!”” book Accent on the Sins Sue Brette—What peculiar raisins in this mince pie! Press Agent—Yes, these are known as taxi-cabaretsins. Just a Bit Isn't Jackson a bit slow?” asked Lerret “Slow!” exclaimed Yadilloh, who lived in the sume bourd- ing-house. “An elephant could take a sponge bath and have body massage, while Jack was washing his face the act)—At Ye Service, Sir! comicbooks.com