Judge, 1923-08-18 · page 4 of 36
Judge — August 18, 1923 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page 2 from Judge Magazine This page contains a short story titled "Adalboy, Smith! A Tale of Perseverance Rewarded" by Cyril B. Egan, illustrated by Gilbert Wilkinson. The narrative satirizes persistent courtship and marriage proposals. A man named A. Adalboy Smith has made fifteen marriage proposals to a woman named Miss Agatha Higgins. Rather than pursue normal courting, he devises a publicity campaign featuring phonograph recordings and feature films showing "A Day in the Life of the Famous Press Agent A. Adalboy Smith"—essentially using media manipulation to win her affection. The story mocks both relentless, publicity-obsessed suitors and the emerging advertising culture's intrusion into personal relationships. The joke suggests that modern marketing techniques have replaced traditional romance.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drawn by GILBERT WILKINSON. Adaboy, Smith! A Tale of Perseverance Rewarded by Cyril B. Egan HEN his fifteenth proposal of marri- had been rejected by the One y Girl, A. Adaboy Smith set to Na | thinking. Here he was a veteran—a | giant among publicity men; but as a i suitor, a veritable novice and num- skull. He would have to overhaul his plan of attack. He would have to drop il the traditional soft palaver, and go in } for the go-getting methods of the adver- ht tising busines He must make Miss eI Agatha Juggins see Smith, hear Smith, think Smith, till by sheer force of pitiless publicity she should be driven into his arms. In brief, the new plan of campaign was to make the lady Smith-conscious. And this purpose—despite the fact that, on the occasion of his last visit, she had forbidden him the house— Adaboy achieved in short order. He bribed the servants of the Juggins household to replace all the phonograph “Anything left for this evening— about half way down—lower floor?” “Betcha! Two nice fancy balcony pillars.” | Rustic Lover—Tess, I look forward to seeing your face after staring at the cattle all day! records of her music cabinet with records of his own voice. All unaware she would pick up a dise, and put it an the machine only to hear the unmistakable tones of the persistent suitor. And will you marry me—me—me? they sang—And will you marry me? Ata private showing of motion pictures, Agatha was again made conscious of the unsquelchable’ Adaboy. ‘This time he had filched the feature film to be shown for the occasion, and replaced it with an ional reel showing A Day in the of the Famous Press Agent, A. Adaboy Smith. Every night the Desirable One re- ceived a telegram. Always the telegram conveyed the same message: Miss ‘Agatha Juggins: Opportunity knocks but once A. Adaboy Smith is the opportunity of your lifetime generously A. Adaboy Smith has knocked comicbooks.com