Judge, 1921-03-05 · page 7 of 32
Judge — March 5, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page contains two satirical pieces mocking American excess and moral hypocrisy in the early 20th century. **"The Reaction"** depicts an "American Citizen" who embodies contradiction: he complains about noise from his multiple wives quarreling, casually plans to divorce and remarry them, orders expensive alcohol (absinthe, Scotch, Burgundy), and hosts dinner parties—all while his son writes essays on *Jurgen* (a sexually scandalous novel by James Branch Cabell that faced censorship). The satire targets wealthy Americans' simultaneous indulgence in vice and moral outrage. **"Needless Knocking"** critiques modern society's tendency to criticize others while ignoring one's own failures—"gas we're burning," "peace we've squandered," "truth we've wandered"—yet always finding "something in that fellow fit for praise." It's a commentary on hypocrisy and pointless gossip. Both pieces exemplify *Judge* magazine's social satire aimed at upper-class American behavior and contradictions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ann ER ut the rem himself 4 Citizen ndulum! ther absint Oscar Wilde's translation « minutes before Ay roulette-sessio Needless Knocking k Lanane Viniax ¥ H°* n In the py To criticize the ot No matter what the rea Wheth Phere’s something How r On the hi To find out where the other fellow stravs— we're burning ever turr Dr by Cass, Kesnemvnie, de. r vs he has been reckless My Aix 1s MADE UP NOT TOGO TO THAT DANCE But. sourovn life sieck ioe fe—Wett. ty pace 1s MADE UP To er There's something in that fellow fit fo The Reaction How much of peace we've squandered (AsDeagoo And how far from truth we've wandered - To fill with woe the other fellow’s « By FE. Gaeconw: HAnrsivick And the methee "THE h be his Will ath his lazily arose. His bath com- 1 wned, rubber pleted, he had his morning absinthe frappé. and h settling down for a few moments’ relaxation, when from 6s. the adjoining room came sounds of quarreling. His wives were involved in some trifling dispute or other Girls!” called the American Citizen, “if you don’t make less noise [ll divorce the lot of vou and marry a new batch tomorrow! Now stop it!” Awed by his thre the tion, The American Ci absinthe Where are the childre Little Bobby's finishin favorite wife. ente sixth-grade English. vo! the girls are, but suppose they're omen ceased their alte zen poured himself another he called. his essay on Jurgen,” replied the room. “It’s part of his know. 1 don’t know where icing somewhere ; goodness!” rejoined the Americ eminds me. Robinson is bringing ives over for dinner this evening. I wish you'd have couple ‘ases of Scotch opened. And tell the butler to serve sparkling Burgundy with the dinner.” L will. dear.” replied his favorite wife. “I must go ow,” she added. “TL have a date with the Mrs. Joneses to goup to the museum. They have the most interesting exhibit there! A complete church, all fitted up with models of the minister and the congregation and every- thing. It’s an exact duplication of the one they found last vear when they were making an excavation for the new distillery And there's a copy of the old Sunday Blue s. as they called them I'm just dying to “Well well, run along, my dear,” said the American comicbooks.com