Judge, 1921-08-27 · page 9 of 36
Judge — August 27, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page **The Cartoon (by John Connacher):** A sailor ashore seeks entertainment from a woman at port. She directs him to see "the sights" and he discovers an art exhibition of abstract/modernist paintings. The punchline mocks avant-garde art: the "wildest daub of all"—presumably an incomprehensible abstract work—is labeled as a realistic still life of "Nasturtium and Its Young." The satire ridicules both pretentious modern art and those who exhibit it seriously. **The Short Stories** are comedic takes on relationships: "Who Can Understand Women?" presents a wife's paradoxical behavior (loving her husband less for winning, more for losing), and "On the Fence" features a woman stringing along an indecisive suitor. "Counting the Cost" contrasts two old friends—one modestly successful in finance, the other arrogantly successful in letters—satirizing male vanity about achievements. The page reflects early 20th-century American attitudes: skepticism toward modernism, bewilderment about women's irrationality, and gentle mockery of male pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drawn by JouN CoNnacHeER. Passenger (ashore at port of call to see the sights) Sailor—F.Loop-tTive, Mum. “AND WHEN IS THAT?” “Four BeLLs, MuM, SHARP.” He paid her, entering the amount carefully in his expense account. She opened a door for him. “It’s at the rear of the room.” He entered eagerly. The first thing that caught his eye was a big placard reading: “First Annual Ex- hibit of the Unmentionables.” He stared about him in bewilderment. The walls were covered with strange framed daubs of color. In a daze, he approached the far wall. There in the center, the strangest and wildest daub of all—was the perfect still. It was labeled: “Nasturtium and Its Young. Study from Still Life, by Martini.” Who Can Understand Women? A MAN went out to fight a great battle. His wife threw her arms about his neck. “Win! win!” she cried, “win for my sake, and I will love you ten thousand times more than now!” The man returned battered and vanquished by the foe. “I lost!” he said to his wife. “Can you ever care for me again?” She met him with a great cry of happiness and threw her arms about his neck, sobbing. “Oh, my dear, my dear!” she cried. “I love you ten thousand times more than if you had won!” On the Fence By RutTH BASSETT EpDy I MIGHT be contented without you, But I like your touch and your kiss And this— This way that you have about you. You aren’t all essential to pleasure, But the time runs away when you’re near. I fear There is something about you to treasure. Since you love me I feel so secure, But to marry I don’t think I will: Yet still— You might ask again to make sure! 9 On! MR. SAILOR, CAN YOU TELL ME JUST WHEN THE BOAT LEAVES? Counting the Cost By KATHERINE NEGLEY Wiliam and Orrin were chums in college end met again after many, many years. “It is good to see you, old man,” said Orrin, “and to know you are a king of finance, a man known the civilized world over for your keen insight, your wise direction of affairs and the lofty idealism of your views.” “There are many greater than I,” depreciated William modestly. “Now, you, for instance. I am glad to learn of your wonderful success in the world of letters and the light you have thrown on the intricacies of the feminine character.” “I certainly deserve my success,” returned Orrin. William looked at him aghast. Such vanity, pride, pretension, arro- gance, ostentation, conceit and ego- tism was very unexpected. “Considering what it cost me to learn the little I know about feminine nature,” he added, disconsolately.