Judge, 1921-01-29 · page 5 of 32
Judge — January 29, 1921 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "His Wife's New Sealskin" This is a humor story by Ada Nichols about a husband and wife robbed at gunpoint. The joke centers on consumer excess and marital tension during what appears to be the early 20th century. The husband complains about financial losses from the robbery, but the wife's primary concern is her stolen fur coat. The story's punchline reveals her real problem: the sealskin coat made her look wealthy and attractive—she's now distressed because replacing it will be expensive and she can't afford an equally glamorous replacement. The satire targets materialism and vanity, particularly women's obsession with luxury goods like expensive furs as status symbols. The cartoons illustrate the wife's dismay at losing her prized possession, mocking both consumer culture and the apparent priorities of wealthy society women.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ir Was Aly wires PUR COAT THAT THE BANDITS His Wife’s New Sealskin By Ava Nicuots Mlustrated by Avert Leverinc al HEAR that you and your wile were held up and robbed last night,” began the man with the pencil behind his ear. “ Did they get much? “Nothing that mattered,” cheerfully replied the ing the turned suit t been robbed, vou take it easy man who was wea “Well, for a man who's j Did vou put up a fight?” said the man in the ter al suit, quietly The eves of the man with the pencil behind his car veered sharply to one side. “Lt wouldn't be healthy for any one to try iton me!” he exclaimed. “To need all the money L can So?" encouraged the man in the turned suit, drily L wanted to buy a car.” confided the man with the pencil the subject but agita- or less active in my family behind his ear, abruptly chan tion for a fur coat has been me for the last dozen weeks. So Lam going to get my wife alskin coat Don't said the oman in’ the turned suit Well. [never could see my way to t before, but L made a little lucky deal the other day and now she ¢ have it. Anyway, [gu one fpr coat won't break me permanently Yes. it will! exclaimed the man in the turned suit, groping for his handkerchief in the plice where a pocket should have been. “It isn’t the cost of the coat— it’s the upkeep! The ‘uy , Yes. 1 [ bought my wife vats last fall—at one of those fur sales. It was some ¢ Well, Lwon't have to close my eves to see my wife in hers! interrupted the man with the pencil behind his ear, jovially. “My wife and Lare pals.” You'll wish you could close them—after she’s had it awhile!” warned the man in the turned clothes Huh, just how do you make that out?” stiffened the man with the pencil behind his var “You see it’s like mourned the man ia the turned clothes.“ My wife kad n fused to go anywhere, said her shoes didn’t match her coat— woner gotten that coat than she re- looked 1 had to t hera too she discovered that ihe ade her hat look like thirty cents, and I had to get. he new hat. After that she had to have a new dress, because sutof that coat in her usual dre she felt so cheap slippi She said everybody would expect to see a dress of distinct beneath such rment fed the m ith well see the pencil behind his car, “one ex pects to dress his wife properly. You after that, weren't ere all) right No! My troubles had only begun My wife and L used to go into these cafeterias to cat, but alter s sealskin coat she wouldn't enter one of them; she said her coat looked so out of place in there that she felt un- comfortable. Besides. she cor i that the people behind her pushed their trays against her back and she was afraid her coat would be spoiled. L had to take her to a better place to cat. It just doubled the cost of liv- She looked like a million dollars in ing it! L could see her in it every time L You were out of hick. weren't closed my eyes.” \Prek THAT SHE HAD TO HAVE A NEW DRE you!” cjaculated the man with the 5 comicbooks.com