Judge, 1922-12-23 · page 5 of 36
Judge — December 23, 1922 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "But Once a Year" by George Mitchell This is a domestic comedy story rather than political satire. The narrative depicts a husband (John) seeking Christmas gift advice from his wife. She suggests expensive items from upscale retailers like Goldfarb's and the Emporium, while the husband resists the cost. He ultimately buys an inexpensive photograph for $15, presents it to Goldfarb's manager as if it's from their store, and claims it cost more—attempting to deceive his wife about the expense. The satire targets matrimonial dynamics and consumer culture: husbands' reluctance to spend on wives' Christmas wishes, wives' material expectations, and marital dishonesty. The cartoon's humor derives from the husband's transparent deception and the gap between conjugal expectations and reality—themes relatable to Judge's early-20th-century middle-class audience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sliding the glaciers at_ Mount Rainier. Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier. I go horseback riding at the Pendleton Rodeo. Drawn by Giuseet Witxtnsox, ‘“*‘But Once a Year’’ by George Mitchell OHN, dear, don't forget to get Mr. Goldfarb’s present to-day. It's get- ting close to Christmas now.” Goldfarb! Gosh, that's all you gotter say t’ make my Christmas a merry little wake. Goldfarb! Goldfarb’s Big Store. Little Old Glenville’s Bon Marche. Emporium of the E it anywhere else, sure to sexes. try Goldfarb. You're t it there. Outfitters to both Everything from a pin to a pyra- “But, my dear, he always gives you something.” “T'll say he does and I can see him doin’ it too. Somepin- like this: He's sitting any chair, Ticket price X. TW He probably sez t’ himself, he There's John Henry. I've gotter pick somepin for him. I may’s well do it now. An’ he goes out and meanders roun’ th’ Emporium till he finds somepin on the bargain counte mark As is” or “Slightly pame or “While They Last.” Mebbe humidoor with a broken water main, mebbe it’s a half dozen pairs 0” socks with runs in ‘em instead o’ clocks, any- way it’s somepin ’at don’t cost him a red. An’ he wraps it up with a lot 0” noteriety so it looks like a million dollars, An’ for that I gotter go out an’ bu pmepin that'll cost a lot o” good jack because he can check up th’ price on it. I'll say pro) osed!” ne up before we drive off.” dear, I don't see how you he’s got me “But, J can help i That's jus’ it. what makes me so sore. think up some way of gettin’ him.” “But, Ji dear . any couldn't 1? “You can what, ve got it.” “Just what have vou got me “Why, P'm gonner give him a handsome photograp! I can’t. An’ that's IT wisht I could back at Darn it, Pean.” John? “Ye And he did and it he sent it to Goldfarb. farb got it he called his general ana into his private office and he said: 5 I git it st Here put this here pho! aft in the win- dow downstairs and write me up some kind of a snappy ad. r, aind it?” It's a good id “My dear, I nearly had a fit when he hat sounds like quite good acting on your part.”