Judge, 1921-07-16 · page 7 of 38
Judge — July 16, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains two satirical pieces reflecting early 20th-century concerns: **"The Difference"** is a poem mocking wealthy investors' emotional attachment to financial instruments—stocks and bonds—when profitable, but their distress when dividends are "cut." The satire targets the shallow materialism of the wealthy class and their dramatic overreaction to financial losses. **"The First Proposal"** humorously chronicles a young woman named Gertrude's dating years, where multiple suitors court her without proposing until Norman Adams finally does. The joke satirizes contemporary courtship rituals and the social expectation that men must propose, while women play coy by refusing (whether proposals actually occur or not). The cartoon below depicts a stalled car and an angry bull, captioned as "very accommodating," which appears to be physical comedy about automotive mishaps—likely satirizing early automobiles' unreliability and the chaos they caused. **"Indirect Costliness"** is a brief joke about how a lost necklace's replacement cost pales beside the medical expense of treating the owner's resulting stress-induced stomach problems—dark humor about psychosomatic illness among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Difference By Jenny Berrs Hartswick OW fair appear my stock certificates— And, eke, how bright my brilliant- bordered bonds! How like in crisp attire these pleasant mates— To their rich rustle how the heart re- sponds! With what a golden-gleaming glamor glows The all-auspicious aura which attends The similar significance of those Two wealthy words—coupons and divi- dends! But, ah, when both are cut! How language fails! Alliteration apt my pen forsakes; My staggering muse in trepidation quails Before the difference their cutting makes, How wide apart—these deftly severed slips That ’neath the eager shears benignly fall, And these dear dividends fate rudely clips In this “the most unkindest cut of all.” The First Proposal By Katuertne NEGLEY ERTRUDE’S sixteenth year was known in the family as the Guy Hodson year. Guy was her first sweet- heart, but he did not propose. Gertrude did not mind. She was very young yet. Then came the Roy Rigley summer, but Roy did not propose either. Gertrude did not care, as she just thought of him as a tennis partner. The two Rae Miller years followed. Rae did not propose, but everyone thought he did, so it really did not matter. The rival yearsof Richard Roth and Tommy Moore were exciting, and their friends were divided on which would win Gertrude. Richard left for Chicago and Tommy left for San Francisco, and the town thought they went to forget, while in point of fact neither had proposed. Now came the Jimmy Ross Thanks- giving, the Charles West Christmas, the Edward Yonkers Easter, and the Frank Mathews Fourth of July. Gertrude was Drawn by Cauvert Suri “Passep By THE CENSOR.’ now known as a flirt, and every one be- lieved she refused them all, while they never proposed. It was a surprise when the Percival Lynhart year began, for Percival was very, very shy, too shy to propose, though if the truth were known, he came nearer than anyone else ever did. It seemed fitting when Norman Adams came to town and was plainly attracted by Gertrude. Norman was a college man and many were the college widows who mourned him. He had traveled the world over and had a sweetheart in every port. He understood women and he immediately understood Gertrude was the type that expects a man to propose and who refuses him gently and firmly when he does—so he proposed. And before he realized how it all came about, the sound of Lohengrin (ll Drawn by A. B. WALKER Tue INCIDENT OF THE RED CAR, THE STALLED ENGINE AND THE INFURIATED BUT, NEVERTHELESS, VERY ACCOMMODATING BULL. was in his ears, the scent of orange blossoms was in his nostrils and the minister was pronouncing him and Ger- trude man and wife. Indirect Costliness Amelia—Poor Lydia is feel- ing dreadfully. She has lost her new necklace. Julia—Why, the thing’s not worth much; she bought a it at the five and BW Amelia—But it’s going to cost at least fifty dollars to have her baby’s stomach X-rayed. comicbooks.com