Judge, 1921-12-17 · page 11 of 36
Judge — December 17, 1921 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Helping Normalcy Along" — Explanation for Modern Readers This satirical piece critiques post-WWI America's embrace of "Normalcy"—President Warren G. Harding's 1920 campaign promise to return to pre-war stability after social upheaval. **The satire:** The narrator claims to help "Normalcy" by simply paying his bills on time and doing manual labor (breaking rocks, building walls). He mocks two groups: verbose lecturers and politicians who make grandiose speeches but accomplish nothing, and pessimists who constantly warn of national collapse. **The point:** Mason argues that genuine progress comes through ordinary work and financial responsibility, not rhetoric or doom-saying. However, the irony is sharp—the illustration shows a figure literally juggling planets while claiming his modest bill-paying helps the nation. This suggests that individual actions, while admirable, cannot actually address systemic problems or prevent larger forces (economic cycles, social change) from affecting the country. **Context:** This reflects 1920s conservative thinking that blamed labor unrest and social criticism for instability, promoting instead a "bootstrap" philosophy of personal virtue solving national problems.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Helping Normalcy Along PAY my bills when they are due, and keep my stand-off white and clean; and there are many gents I in view who don’t do quite so well, I ween And some of them are noisy birds who make the welkin hum and sing; they deal in platitudes and words that really don’t meant anything. They want the Government to rise from out the torpor of its trance, and pull some stunts they hold are wise, and thus make Normalcy advance. If Congress would do this or that, these troubled times would simmer down; and thus they talk each through his hat, each with his Daniel Webster frown. And I am doing what I can to help the “normal” graft along; “pay all bills promptly” is my plan; it seems to me I'm going strong. I pay the grocer for his prunes, I pay the drummer for his drums, I pay the fiddler for his By Watt Mason Illustration by Ratpx Barton Sending up a loud “Alack!” that jars the folks on other spheres. tunes, I pay the plumber for his plums. The grocer takes the precious bones and pays the tanner for his tan, and Smith pays Brown, and Brown pays Jones, and so we’re helping every man. A thousand lecturers go forth, and many fancy rags they chew; they travel east, they travel north, and tell us what we ought to do. They go along in brave array, and wear large diamonds by the pound, but never do they put up hay, or help to make the wheels go round. There are so many men who ttalk, so many journey on their gall; and I am busy breaking rock, that I may build a concrete wall. To build this wall I hire nine men, and buy maierials galore; and Normalcy looks up again, and thinks her day will come once more. So many fellows stand and spiel, when work is what the country needs! My trusty barrow now I wheel, and fill my day with helpful deeds. The wights alarm; full of mournful who view the future with they walk the floor through dismal nights, and talk of dole and dearth and harm. They’re sure the nation’s on the blink, it’s on its last demnition trip; and they would drive a man to drink, if there were any- thing to sip. We don’t help Normalcy come back by wringing hands and shedding tears, by sending up a loud “Alack!” that jars the folks on other spheres. I say to everyone, “Gadzooks! We must not quaff the bitter cup! No matter how the old world looks, it’s bound to come out right side up!” I say to everyone, “Odsblood! You country’s do not help things when you sigh! Don’t stand there, sticking in the mud, and better things will soon come by.” Some people want to pass a law, although by laws we’re overborne, and every time I’m pinched I draw a heavy sigh, and kick and mourn. We can’t bring Normalcy again by fram- ing statutes, I am sure, or sending people to the pen, or trying any bug- house cure. And Normalcy our land deserves, and needs it every passing day; and if you’ll mark my nifty curves, you soon will see it on the way. I pay my bills when they are due, I keep my stand-off clean and white, I do my chores the whole day through, and owe no man a red at night. And if all men would try this scheme, fair Normalcy would be on deck; our woes would be a bygone dream, and every mail would bring a check comicbooks.com