Judge, 1920-02-28 · page 9 of 36
Judge — February 28, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Billy" by Wat S. Adkins — Page Analysis This is a short story with illustrations rather than a political cartoon. It depicts a bohemian artist's studio gathering in early 20th-century America, satirizing artistic society's attitudes toward romance and propriety. **The figures:** William Forrest ("Billy"), a 44-year-old artist who hosts gatherings; an unnamed female visitor described as charming and flirtatious. **The social commentary:** The story gently mocks the pretensions of artistic circles where smoking women, casual kissing, and unconventional behavior are tolerated, yet Billy himself—despite his sophisticated milieu—remains emotionally detached from romance, devoted only to his work. **The joke's point:** The irony that someone surrounded by bohemian freedom and admiring women has never actually loved anyone, suggesting that artistic devotion can be an excuse for emotional unavailability or that even "liberated" society cannot resolve fundamental human isolation.
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vediately very much roup She puffed a cigarette dai then threw it away with a impartially, she was like a pretty ch ked her As the evening passed little to one sid s hin fluttered uf Ww up a tabaret ar like you the best,” she murt “Ah, Carmen, do you come to men? s “Ca “You have the soul of Carmen ar he blue eves of Priscilla.” She didn’t know whether she liked this or “Perhaps | have been Carmen to others, sa finally, “but to you I will be Priscilla, if you will let me.” She brushed her perfumed hair against his shoul- *L like you, Billy!” . ‘The smoke haze thickened, the chatter softened into 4 subdued murmurings. [ach group was sufficient to itself. She paid no attention to the othe She crooned a little song—"*And when T walk Vil always walk with Billy.” Draven by Manni 0 M vias He had never heard it, but the soft repetition of |} A Post-IMpresston ov tHe Seasoy’s Latest name thrilled, enchanted him Success “Billy, why have you never loved?” “T love my work.” Bi 11 y She did not answer this but crooned her little sony about Billy By Wat Seo dAsian Suddenly she said, “1 am sorry 1 came here to- a M FORREST, known to a wide circle as night.” was an artist of sufficient ability to “Why?? maintain himself in luxury. Ilis studio was frequently the scene of those little gatherings familiar to most studios. He was a quiet fellow, but liked to have a few friends around im. He was forty-four years old, loved his work, seemed to have little other interest in life, although he was keenly interested in the joys or rows of his friends. 7 The most unselfish of men, he loved to make ready good food and drink, look after the serving, get the talk going. When the chatter, punc tuated by bursts of laughter, became lively, he was happy \t these affairs some of the ladies smoked, others did not. Some sipped a glass of wine, others didn’t. You did as you pleased. No + harm was thought if, now and then, a > kiss was exchanged. These peopl knew cach other well. Some of them were in love with each other, some of them just in love with happiness . Billy had never been known to kiss a lady publicly. If he had ever been in love nobody knew it. One evening somebody brought a stranger to the studio She was 2 little thing, but a bit of evs stop her scratch comicbooks.com