Judge, 1920-06-26 · page 10 of 37
Judge — June 26, 1920 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Shiftless" - Judge Magazine Satire Analysis This page critiques American financial irresponsibility. The article presents statistics from New York's Surrogate office showing that most Americans die with minimal estates—85% leave under $1,000—despite supposedly earning well. The author argues Americans excel at *making* money but are utterly incompetent at *saving* it, calling the nation "shiftless" (lazy, irresponsible). The bottom cartoon titled "Playing Both Ends Against the Middle" depicts a domestic scene where a man and woman argue while children watch and a well-dressed observer stands nearby. The dialogue references a traffic accident: the husband hit-and-run a pedestrian without stopping, the wife didn't give him a chance to apologize. The joke sarcastically illustrates moral bankruptcy matching the financial theme—people prioritize speed and self-interest over responsibility in all life domains. The upper illustration shows two children by flowers, captioned about "Looks, Sis! There Ain't So Wire in the Stems of Regular Flowers"—likely a joke about artificial versus natural things, possibly extending the "fake/worthless" metaphor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
seven years following the death of the creator. — Big ittle estates suffer alike in this rapid and sense- fact. may surprise some, it is never theless true that seven-eighths of what Americans leave at death is life insurance! The records of the New York Surrogate’s office over a period of five vear show the following facts regarding the estates left by adults dying during that time 3% left no estate whatever 85 43% left from $300 to $1,000 1 1 1 « left from $1,000 to 8, left from $5,000 to $10,000, 8€F left from $10,000 to $25,000. 3% left over Looxry, Sist Trnae Aistr so Wire iy rie Srests What's wrong with this nation? We seem to know or Recuian t = hov ake money and how to make it rapidly. But we don’t know a darned thing about saving it! ‘That's Shiftless the rub. If we knew how to save and could do it as éifexux: Rercvons well as we can spend, this nation wouldn't be so shiftless om So, the next time you pick up a magazine or a news- NONSTANT recurrence of a misstatement in time and read there me statement b r C will make that n appear like the val prosperity, just let your mind slant back and A golden truth. For ex there certain consider some of the facts I’ve quoted in g i twe area p We're shiftless and that’s no mistake sort of thi into ¢ facts not generally 1 Why do you always go to the show right in the of the picture? rich nation, why is it that 9go0°O Oh, because I can wonder not only how it will active business to reach old end, but also how it will begir lessness © fact of twen provide per mvs lack Even the children of thi Playing Both Ends Against the Middle a <uau’s Deer wy - a natior would cer- when we that the only lasts comicbooks.com