Judge, 1921-12-17 · page 7 of 36
Judge — December 17, 1921 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains multiple short humorous pieces satirizing Christmas shopping and domestic life circa 1920s America. **Main cartoon** (Stuart Hay illustration): A woman hires a man for a job, asking him to gather eggs while promising trustworthiness. He responds that as a former bathhouse manager for fifteen years who "never took a bath," he's reliable—the joke being that someone who steals from his employer (bathwater) while claiming honesty is obviously untrustworthy. It's a working-class humor piece about dishonest servants. **Text pieces** by Carolyn Wells humorously catalogue Christmas shopping frustrations: indecisive customers, demanding wives, exhausted shoppers, and the commercialization of gift-giving. One bit jokes that Santa's wife finds his comment about "seeing stockings all my life" unsurprising. The smaller items mock marital dynamics, mistletoe encounters, and children's Christmas expectations. **Overall tone**: Lighthearted domestic satire targeting consumer culture, marriage complications, and class anxieties—typical Judge magazine fare mocking middle-class American life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= (Baraat Smith’s fiancée said she didn’t believe he ever wore the presents she had given him. Smith is calling in the réle of a human Xmas tree to show her that he does. EXTRA Crawford—You might have expected that your wife would ask you for Christmas money. Crabshaw—But, man, I never imag- ined that she would demand a bonus. WELL REMEMBERED Mrs. Lerrett (to pretty but naive maid)—I told my husband to remem- ber you Christmas. Did he do it? Felice (caught under the mistletoe) —Yes, madam. Three times.” Drawn by Stuart HAY. “Yes, I can give you a job. In the Christmas Shops By Carolyn Wells “€(X. OOD Land! I vow I've lost my purse!” “I want that wool scarf striped—not checkered.” “Yes, every year worse— But wait—I want record.” “Tots, if you cry I'll take you home! You promised me—” “That matches better— It’s not so pink—” “a rhinestone comb? Oh, no! Give her the purple sweater.” “There’s simply nothing for a man! Jim vows he'll burn ties or sus- penders!” “Please let me see a feather fan—” “Have you those chicken wire brass fenders?” “But then crank— Last year—I wish you could have heard her!” “No, don’t give Junior a tin bank— That boy would break an iron girder!” “That book is fine—it’s all uplift It’s by one of those highbrow scholars— It’s love—he says—that makes the gift, And not its worth in paltry dollars.” “Now, I’m all done, but Will and Jack And Will's two aunts and my three brothers—” “I cannot stand this aching back! I'll just send cards to all the others!” the crowds get to change a our cook is such a NO TREAT TO HIM Mrs. Santa Claus (upon her hus- band’s return)—Were the styles the girls are wearing as bad as reported? Santa Claus—I’m no judge. I've been used to seeing stockings all my life. PRELIMINARY Madge—Why did you want Charlie with you when you went to hang your mistletoe? Marjorie—Now don’t ask foolish questions. We were rehearsing. ANCHOR TO WINDWARD Mrs. Crabshaw — My Christmas money will just about last. Willie—You'd better save a tenspot, Ma, in case the landlord wants to charge Santa Claus for landing on Hope Springs Eternal. BEFORE THE KNEE CAP APPEARED First Kid—Got your Christmas tree yet? Second Kid—No; but I swiped one of Ma’s 1920 stockings. You may gather the eggs for me if you are sure you won't steal any.” “Youse could trust me wid anything, lady. I wuz manager of a bathhouse for fifteen years an’ never took a bath.” comicbooks.com