Judge, 1920-05-29 · page 13 of 36
Judge — May 29, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a short story illustration (not a political cartoon) about a young doctor named Delavan. The satire targets the aspirations and romantic calculations of early 20th-century professional life. **The Setup:** Two acquaintances discuss how Delavan, despite owing his tailor money, maintains an impressive appearance and lifestyle—presenting a false front of success ("savoir faire") to advance his medical career. **The Joke:** Delavan gains patients through charm rather than credentials. When he treats elderly unmarried women, they become devoted to him, presumably hoping to remember him in their wills. His friends cynically observe that his romantic prospects depend on finding a wealthy woman, since "nice girls with money are not so numerous." **The Satire:** The piece mocks how doctors (and young professionals generally) use appearance, charm, and calculation rather than genuine skill to build practices, and how courtship itself is transactional—especially regarding women's financial status. The illustration shows Delavan in his office with scattered medical items and fashionable clothing, embodying the contradiction between his polished exterior and presumed financial instability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“There Were And Cupid Smiled \. WaLprox Lawkencr By J. Mlustration b “ EE HIM? Lalmost forgot myself to the point of crying ‘Hello!’ t > have heard me.” “t Delava Yes. Psawhim. He'll u ¢ ofhcer and be reminded of the he is hurrying to the are priviley This was young doctor he comment of two of his friends as the n’t half a di vad half the his b “That's all in the g. a car by any mea a young doctor can yet and he w that sooner or son his way, then! matter how much he may owe his tailor roth equisite—sacotr faire. 1 like him.” 5 I. But T can’t figure out how he ma to puton such a front. Of course he'll get there.” Ornek Breata-Catcuinc Garments ” Frnrows “He talked confidentially with me the other day It’s all right to mention it as I give no names Within a week he was called in to treat two more or less aged spinsters. The physician of one of them was out o nd the other's was ill. Delavan thought the ole might keep him on the job perma- nently.” “TI bet both of them had seen him first. That's what youth and a good appearance do. Both ma remember him in their wills—if they have money.” “Oh, both h. were imaginar “As so many complaints are money. But he said their complaint -especially of womer and particularly of spinsters. That sort of thing what makes casy going for established physician well as beginners. Bills are rendered just the san Sut why don’t Delavan marry some nice girl with ney 2”? “Nice you know if he finds opportunity m irls with money are not so numerous. Di But Delavan is ready to do that, | gu He’s sentimental and all that— comicbooks.com