Judge, 1920-04-03 · page 11 of 36
Judge — April 3, 1920 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Hazard of Service" - Analysis This is a short story illustration (not political satire) about social dynamics among wealthy women. Mrs. Melford and Mrs. Deane are social rivals who maintain surface cordiality while harboring competitive feelings. The story centers on Agnes, Mrs. Melford's exceptionally skilled and beautiful French maid, whom Mrs. Deane covets. When Mrs. Deane encounters Agnes on the street, she attempts to recruit her with a higher wage, cautioning Agnes not to mention the offer to Mrs. Melford. The cartoon depicts this street encounter—showing the two women in fashionable 1920s attire, with onlookers visible. The satire targets the hypocrisy of wealthy women who publicly maintain friendships while privately scheming to one-up each other, even over domestic help. The "hazard of service" appears to be that valuable servants become objects of social competition and manipulation among status-conscious employers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Yes; Bur Rememper Tuar | A Hazard By J. A. Illustration by RS. MELFORD and Mrs. Deane were social rivals. Not as leaders, but as followers of leaders. ‘They were volubly cordial when they met, as a rule, but in other circumstan- ces when one was the other’s subject they afforded lessons to aspiring amateurs in social hypocrisy. Mrs. Melford had a model maid in Agnes. Al- though a native, the girl had all the arts and aptitudes of a Frenchwoman in intimate employment. She com- manded wages that brought gasps from Mrs. Melford’s women friends, who nevertheless coveted her. Such detail is no secret where an extraordinarily pleasing and competent servant is concerned. And with all else Agnes was a creature of beauty. Men in all walks of life perused her when she was on view. That is to say, most men. Melford never noticed her. But Melford was a busy man in a large way. Mrs. Deane had employed maid after maid in hope Lawrence Want You” of Service Watpron Fettows of finding Agnes’s equal. She had gone so far as to approach Agnes seductively. One day they encount- ered on the Avenue. Mrs. Deane led up to her desire tactfully and offered Agnes a substantial advance over what she was receiving from Mrs. Melford “Oh, no, madam! I can’t leave Mrs. Melford—at least not at present.” “Well, some day you may want to make a change. If you do, please come to me. Of course you will not mention my offer to Mrs. Melford.” “T may tell her I have had such an offer without naming you, madam. One must forward one’s inter- you know!” Yes. But remember that ! want you.” Less than a week afterward Mrs. Deane was sur- prised by a call on the ’phone from Agnes. “I am le. ing Mrs. Melford today,” she said. very sudden.” ests, au comicbooks.com