Judge, 1921-02-19 · page 12 of 32
Judge — February 19, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political/Social Satire Analysis This page presents a serialized romantic story rather than a political cartoon. The narrative follows "Joy," a wealthy young man who meets an attractive woman on the subway, only to discover she's a pickpocket who stole his wallet and family heirloom pin. The satire targets **class distinctions and moral hypocrisy** in early 20th-century America. Joy's internal conflict—nearly willing to defend a criminal because she's beautiful and seemingly innocent—mocks the privileged male's disconnect from reality. The story suggests that desperate circumstances ("imperative personal necessities") drive people to crime, yet Joy's solution is superficial: bail money and lawyers rather than understanding systemic poverty. The three illustration captions ("By Their Undress Ye Shall Know Them") explicitly mock class markers through fashion, contrasting poor, middle-class, and wealthy women's appearances. The page also includes unrelated content: "A Halo Undeserved" (a poem about an idealized woman) and "Czecho-Slovakia" (likely referencing post-WWI Eastern European politics).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee ent eS ee Drown by Pace Reatey By Tuetr Unpress Ye Suat. Kyow Tuem Tue Poor Tue So-Catcen Tue Ricn Mipore Crass Joy returned her smile, and followed it with a frown at a tough- looking young man who selfishly sat immediately in front of him. As the train sped the girl caught hold of Joy’s coat, and he steadied her with his idle arm. Their contact was close. It could hardly have been closer if they had been engaged in an intimate dance. It humanized him strangely. “By George,” he thought, ‘this beats the isolation of a limousine—and many other things! enjoyed that Subway ride to his destination, Wall he girl had insinuated herself It happened to be from Police Headquarters. Identifying Joy, the voice asked if he had lost anything that morning be- sides a large wallet. containing various papers and a consider- able sum of mon nd bearing his name. Up to this moment Joy had not known he had been robbed. His hand went to his scarf. A pin of value as an antique and cherished as a family token was also missing. Joy woke up and began to ask questions. Yes,” said the Headquarters voic ‘our pocket has been picked, as you call it. And we have the thief here. Please come right over.” A vision of the miniature Venus who had been coquetting with his imagination all morning became more distinct. Surely this dear little thing, who looked so innocent, who had smiled so engagingly at him with gratitude in her eyes, could not be the thief! Yet if it should be she! Strange things happen in New York, and imperative personal necessities arise. Some are driven to crime. Yet Joy would not believe it! If they had her in custody, he would go bail for her. More than that, he would employ the best lawyer in town to defend her. He might even go beyond that! Joy was trembling with nervousness as he entered Head- quarters. He happened to know the Inspector who had the matter in charge. They shook hands. L should like to talk with you a bit,” said Joy, very nervous, “before we—before I—" “Oh, that can wait! I want you to see the prisoner, for possible identification.” There is something quite peremptory about Police In- spectors. They have a way that is definite, and Joy was not used to their arbitrary habit. With his heart in his mouth he followed the quick step of the Inspector to the room where the pickpocket was in custody. And there he saw the tough-looking fellow who had sat in front of him in the Subway. Joy rose the next morning at his usual out at Fulton Street, smiling upon him The Leg of Nations. No. 1 time. ‘Telephone Jeffards,” he said to as she relinquished her hold on his coat. 7) Raimond, his valet, ‘that I shall not use The sweet intimacy was over. Joy . Ww, either car this morning.” wished he had asked her name and A “Yes, sir. the valet, somewhat address. No doubt she was a stenog- vw \ astonished, replicd. ‘* You are not going rapher, or something, but what did that \L le) matter? Eve knew nothing about finish- 4 - ing schools. This pretty creature ought ~ not to work at all, It wouldn’t take all the pains in the world to make her a lady. Novel experiences beget strange lines of thought. While satisfied with his journey, Joy seemed dissatisfied about something else. This young bachelor went to business by virtue of inherited habit. He lived a life of some gayety, but on the whole was sagacious for his day and generation. He had an elaborate office in which realty in- vestments original with his great-grand. father were conserved. Others did the work. Joy simply looked on. And some times he wondered about what certain economists call ‘‘unearned increment.” He was speculating, soon after noon, as to which of his downtown clubs he should favor with his presence for luncheon, when there was a call on the Jy yay wor be AMues, *phone for him personally Drown by Jous Hew, Ji Czecno-SLavia Axp Now twat Tits New CzrcHo Lass That chall Has joven THE INTERNATIONAL CLASS, irae "THAT SHE SHOULD LEAD THE SCHOOL A DANCE to business?" “Oh, yes! But I'm going in’ the Subway.” A Halo Undeserved By Cowtxxe Rocxwert Swain KIRTLE scant, a silken knee, Soft checks of rose, Two lips more red than lips should be, A saucy nose; A puff to veil cach modest ear, Some subtle curls, An inch of bodice in the rear, A string of pearls. i I rather disapprove her style, I must confess, And marvel that her careless smile Can wound or bless; But when I meet her laughing eyes enge inine, Tantunsee I'm much inclined to canonize My Valentine! | comicbooks.com