Judge, 1923-09-22 · page 4 of 36
Judge — September 22, 1923 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "John Takes a Vacation" by George Mitchell This story satirizes the conflict between a man's desire for rest and his wife's anxieties. John announces he won't take a vacation, claiming business demands his presence. Mary counters with increasingly absurd worries: he's stuck with a "white elephant" (unsellable property), the Shackleton estate will collapse without him, fishing is dangerous. The cartoon illustration shows a couple where the man appears exhausted while the woman gestures animatedly—capturing the domestic dynamic of the story. The satire mocks how spouses use exaggerated concerns to manipulate each other's leisure plans, and how vacations become sources of marital friction rather than rest. The humor lies in recognizing these relatable domestic power struggles.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TANNINS NIRS g A fill NR all ove for a \ dollars Would and m He nothin; line We Hl (dp ( a Wop y A [My Get asticall Fish “Your new partner's a “You terrible dancer, Dot.’ “I know—but, oh, boy, how he can sit out!” JOHN TAKES A VACATION by George Mitchell “TT cn No use talking, Mary, There's a white elephant on my hands. back with none or the bottom of the boat's I won't take a vacation. I never Can't sell it to anybody and it’s costing alive with the flapping thing take vacations. Don’t believe in’ me three thousand interest to carry "em. Can't even cat "em. vacations. — Never did. N er will. it. you erying about? Oh, pshaw!” n't see anything in ‘em for anybody. “Don't worry—" “The doctor said your nerves: Waste o’ time that should be devoted to “There you go! Who's to worry if I “Hang the doctor! Mary—Mary! Oh, business. No, I won't take a vacation.” don't? Fifty thousand and nothing well—what are you going to do with a »hn Foster, the you talk! You stirring and you say: ‘Don’t worry. woman? Mary, stop crying, can't you? a rest, same’s ev ody.” fake a vacation.’ Women are something Well, well, well! There, now. I'll t Nobody needs a rest. Never took a “t understand. Never did. Never —T'll take a coupla hours this mornin rest. Don't believe in rests. Can't see : “Oh, John dear—you're so funny. anything to Never did. Never “But John, dear, when there’s nothing “Sure 'm funny. Ha, ha! will, LT won't t rest.” doing— Hurry now. Get into an old suit “But, John dear—" “Mary, dear, you talk like a partner. ye a nice warm lunch when you get “No use, Mary! Don't you see I gotta sell the Shackleton “—the Doctor said—" place and I gotta go into town to do it? “What's he know about vacations? Can't you see that? Fifty thousand— ALF AN Hour later John shambled Drawn Doctors don’t know anything anyhow. ask seventy-five—take seventy. his way down the road conscious Never did—never will. Besides I gotta John, dear, I'm worried about you. in the belief that the entire neighborhood go to town. Haven't sol thing this You're coming down with something.” was laughing at him behind curtained summer. Rottenest su I ever had. “I'm coming down with a crash if I windows. Don't know what's com don’t sell the Shackleton place. I see Arrived at the country store, he entered estate. Nobody buying a thi and after an altercation with Shlipsky did. Never will. There’s that big ouldn’t you go fishing, John?” bought a second-hand rod, line and a He— Shackleton estate I went and bought. ing! My Godfrey! You mean card of flies, and with the rod clumsily wonder Got fifty thousand dollars tied up in it. me, Mary? Only fools fish. You come clutched in his hand made his way to the She ( on our 2 comicbooks.com