Judge, 1922-02-18 · page 12 of 36
Judge — February 18, 1922 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Casual Collegians" Analysis This humor piece satirizes college students' pretentious adoption of psychology—then a fashionable new academic field—as intellectual posturing. Al, a roommate, claims psychology proves he's intellectually superior, though the narrator notes he takes it precisely because it's "admittedly the easiest course in college." The satire peaks when Al attempts to "resolve complexes" using word-association tests (a contemporary psychological technique). His profound interpretations—finding deep significance in mundane responses like "tooth" for "gold"—mock how students misapply amateur psychology jargon to sound sophisticated. The joke culminates when the narrator, tired of Al's pseudo-intellectual bluffing, literally strikes him with a psychology textbook, suggesting the whole enterprise deserves physical rejection. The bottom cartoon strip ("Advantages of Education") reinforces the theme: it shows a teacher asking basic questions a student cannot answer, inverting the page's broader message that formal education doesn't guarantee actual knowledge or competence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Casual Collegians By Donatp OcpEN STEWART duthor of “A Parody Outline of History” Mlustrated by Joux Hexp, Jr. “ HIS psychology is great stuff,” said Al one night, closing his work with a slam. Al is my roommate—or, rather, one of my room- mates—at Branford college. Pete, my other “roomy,” and I were just undressing for bed, and we didn’t, of course, pay any attention. “I said,” repeated Al, “that this psychology is great stuff, and it’s a pity you two ironheads haven't brains enough to understand it.” “The only reason,” I replied, “that you are taking psychology and we aren't, is that psychology is admittedly the easiest course in college, and Pete and I came here to develop our minds, not to loaf.” “The answer to that,” replied Al, “should be contemptuous silence on my part. But I am too big a man—too great-hearted a soul—to resent an insult—even though the insult be a de- liberate, malicious falsehood from one whom I had always considered a friend.” “Shut up, you guys,” yelled Pete from the next room. “I'm trying to sleep.” “You sleep too much,” replied Al “You sleep in all your classes—you sleep at all your meals—you sleep—” This speech was interrupted by the slamming of Pete's bedroom door. Al turned to me. “Now to show you,” he said, “that psychology is not the easiest course in college—and to further show you what I mean when I say it's great stuff—I shall now resolve your complexes for you.” “Resolve what?” I said. “Resolve your complexes,” he re- plied, with the important air of a physician recommending immediate amputation “No, you won't,” I said to bed.” “I'm going “Don't be acrab,” said Al. “It's alot of fun. I had mine resolved this after- noon—Prof. Gilder did it himself.” “What's a complex?” I asked, paus- ing on the edge of my bedroom “Well—maybe you haven't any,” re- plied Al. “Lots of people do: This, of course, aroused my peti- tive spirit “Well, if you had any I guess I'll take a chance on having some myself.” “That,” replied Al, “remains to be seen. Sit down.” I sat down. “Now, complexes—" he began. “Oh, can the lecture,” I said, “and resolve the complexes. I want to gu to bed.” “Now, complexes,” continued Al, un- moved, “are certain inhibitions in the mind which can only be discovered by intelligent, well-trained psychologists.” “Like yourself,” I sneered. “Like myself,” he replied, unmoved by my sarcasm. “Now, the way to discover what your complexes are is to note care- fully your reaction to certain words. For instance, I say to you the word ‘gold.’ What comes into your mind?” “Tooth,” I replied. “Ah!” said Al “Very significant. Now the word ‘camel’?” “Soup,” said I “The word ‘park’?” “Tilford,” said I, quickly “Now this one is extremely impor- tant,” said Al. “The word ‘God’?” “Subway,” said I “What?” said Al “Sure!” I replied “A subway guard.” “I said God!" “Oh!” replied I “God!"—then, after a moment—"God bless papa and mama.” Al was silent. “Well,” I finally said, “have I any complexes?” “You have,” said Al; “several. In the first place, you are in love with a young lady who has a gold tooth. This worries you—as does also her conduct when eating soup at Park & Tilford’s. Finally—" “Finally, I said, “psychology is a great study—the books are so heavy"; and with that I crowned him as hard as I could with “McDuff's Elementary Study of Psychology.” THE ADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION Teacher—What are the “How do you spell ‘onion’ i “T never did know that one. principal industries? Boy—You can search me “What is a noun?” “You got me there” “Well, tell me, what is Feb- ruary 22nd?” “Holiday!”