Judge, 1922-07-01 · page 8 of 36
Judge — July 1, 1922 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains satirical commentary on early 20th-century literary and social trends. **"The Readers' Litany"** (top left) mocks popular magazine fiction tropes through mock-religious petition: detective stories, criminal narratives, psychological tales, ghost stories, and pseudo-scientific plots. The author pleads for writers to instead depict realistic "Sure Enough People" with actual logic and character depth—satirizing the formulaic, sensational fiction dominating the era. **The cartoon dialogue** ("Gwendolyn, are we alone?") parodies melodramatic seduction scenes common in period literature. **"Precosity"** (bottom) satirizes wealthy parents boasting about precocious children. One parent brags his eight-month-old child broke his collarbone doing aerial stunts in a monoplane—absurdly impossible, mocking parents' exaggerated claims about infant accomplishments and the era's fascination with dangerous aviation technology. The remaining jokes target contemporary social pretensions: bad manners, Roman tourism clichés, judicial pomposity, and automobile unreliability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Gwendolyn, are we alone?” Gruff voice from the dark—No, but you will be in one minute! The Readers’ Litany by Marquis Carr O2 Literary Gods, Puissant and Most High; we thy long-suffering votaries do earnestly entreat thee to hearken to these, the several petitions of our bore- dom and exasperation: From the Super-craft of the Omnipotent Detective; from the Legerdemain of the Arch-criminal; from the Babble of Hys- teria; and from the Ravings of “Repres- sions,” Kind Gods, deliver us! First Fond Parent—Pretty smart kid, eh? Mine broke his collar bone yesterday doing the spiral sin in his monoplane. Second Fond Parent—Bah! From the Hand-books for Petters; from Clinical Records; and from Psycho- pathetic Reports, Kind Gods, deliver us! From the Plague of the Spook; from the Pestilence of Pseudo-science; and from the Famine of Decency, Kind Gods, deliver us! From the Complex; and from the En- vironmental Alibi; and from the Plati- tudinal Finger-post to Success (two can- dles go with this), Kind Gods, deliver us! From the Wonder-child; and from the “Glad” Stuff; from the Iron Hand of PRECOSITY Only eight months. 6 Uolitts and from ithe Deadly Diary, Kind eliver us! Grunt rather that Writers may be inspired to narrate the Yarn that has Probability as well as Punch; that, while they may not sacrifice Logic for the Saccharine Finish they may avoid any undue Russian Effects; that they may tell of Successful Men who don't neglect their Wives and of Women who can Think and likewise Cook; also of Maidens who can shake a Wicked Foot and hold a Level Head. In short see that Once in awhile they write about Sure Enough People! And this we beg for our Sanity’s Sake. Amen. ss HE ardent swain was radiant. “I am going to marry a woman without a cent to her name,” he said “Oh, well, a good dame is more to be desired than great riches,” replied the chap with a cold in the head. rr Mrs. Willis—Jack Boorish is running around with a dining-room Mrs. Gillis—Fine! May teach him some table manners. sss Baker—When you were in Rome did you do as the Romans do? Barker—Yes, I avoided every Roman point of interest. tse “Why is the Judge wearing a black eye?” “Because he tried to instruct the lady jurors that they were not to ae Wife—If my husband tries to kiss you, I want you to scream. Understand? New Maid—Have a heart, lady! That's what your last maid did and you fired her. er “Did you ever take your car to pieces?” “No. It was a second-hand one, and the last time I had it out it saved me the trouble.” * she can