Judge, 1921-07-30 · page 16 of 36
Judge — July 30, 1921 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* contains three satirical pieces mocking social behavior: **"The Gossip"** (verse by George Murray): A poem deriding women who spread rumors and meddle in others' affairs. It presents gossip as an eternal vice—even in the afterlife, scheming women will identify old scandals, finding perverse pleasure in others' misfortunes. The satire targets women's perceived love of scandal-mongering. **"The Henna Hyena"** (top illustration): A satirical look at Greenwich Village reformers. The drawing mocks bohemian reformers' self-righteousness, depicting their idealized but impractical social vision. **"The Up-to-date Burglar"**: Satirizes the apparent "professionalization" of criminals. The piece ironically praises burglars for becoming well-dressed, sophisticated men of style rather than shabby criminals—suggesting they're becoming indistinguishable from respectable society and aspiring to "high finance," mocking both criminal ambition and upper-class pretension. The humor relies on inverted moral values and social criticism typical of early 20th-century satirical magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Gossip By Georce Murray HEN the last kiss is kissed, and the last lie is told, And the last scheming woman is bent, and worn, and old, Then the loves that died from meddling, done by women long ago Will rise in their lovely splendor, as fair as the sunset’s glow, And the last scheming woman will screech out, “I told you so!” When the lost loves and broken loves arise, now new and whole, And the air’s a-thrill with murmurs— whisperings imbued with soul Then the meddling, scheming gossip. knowing nothing save of earth, Will identify old scandals—she’ll have suffered from their dearth— And the last scheming woman will amuse herself with mirth. When the last kiss is kissed, and the last lie is told, And the last scheming woman is bent, and worn, and old, The passion of her passions spent, glad- gloating she will fall, Upon a hidden scandal. ‘* Now, listen—!”” she will call. For the scheming, mumbling gossip will never change at alll THE HENNA HYENA = on Greenwicu Vittace As THE Rerormer Sees It, ANp Eager Pupils Wanted—Sympathy Employment A gent—You say you want a mistress with a heart. Just what do you mean by that? Maid—At my last place when I broke the French plate mirror, the lady of the house spoke bitterly of the money loss, without considering the seven years’ bad luck that was coming to me. Drawn by A. T. Mennice Tue Human Tuermometex Recorpinc Fry-Time. 16 The Up-to-date Burglar ie is a pleasure to note the recorded im- provement in the attire and bearing of the professional burglar. His clothes in- dicate that he has gained in self-respect as s increased in importance and dignity. Newspaper accounts of many house-breakings and hold-ups refer to the fact that the law-breakers were dressed in the height of fashion and carried them- selves with the air of suave and present- able men-of-the-world. This is distinctly a step forward. Formerly when the burglar went a-burgling he was garbed in a costume that greatly detracted from any pleasure that might be derived from meeting him upon his nocturnal rounds. He has be- come, as the years passed, a pleasure to ‘ur of wines and cigars, g of a linguist and well-adapted vay to prove that the professional oluting along the lines for- merly followed by the professional diplo- mats. It really looks as though our younger and more energetic cracksmen aspired eventually to take an active and ornamental part in high finance. Too Conservative “Why are you so peeved at Editor Thompson?” “Wall, Jim Scoby’n me had a fight, an’ that weasel-brained editor called it an ‘altercation’.”