Judge, 1923-09-29 · page 12 of 36
Judge — September 29, 1923 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"Ad-conscious"** (main story): Satirizes men whose lives are shaped by advertising promises. Jones, a diligent office worker, believes advertisements depicting boss-employee relations showing warm congratulations upon promotion. Instead, his boss curtly fires him, replacing him with the nepotistically-hired son-in-law of old man McBlur. The satire mocks how advertising creates false expectations about American business meritocracy, contrasting glossy ads with grim workplace reality. **"Farmer Whiffle"** (rural humor strip): A farmer questions why his son reads "Black Oxen" (likely a 1920s novel) when practical farming books exist. This satirizes rural skepticism toward modern literature and urban culture. **Smaller jokes** mock advertising absurdities (chewing gum profanity, car parking), dramatists' superstitions, and psychology/salesmanship tactics. The overall theme: advertising misleads Americans about how the world actually works.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ren ““Ad-conscious” (Continued from page 7) ened. At last the hoped for promotion was doubtless to be given him! Noon hours spent in assiduous study while the remainder of the office force idled away their time over sporting pages and such, had not gone unnoticed. His cherished hour had probably arrived! But the greeting accorded him as he stepped across the threshold was some- } what at variance with the pictures in the advertisements. Instead of leaping forward to grasp him by the hand, the while congratulating him upon his ad- j vancement to the position of general ' manager, the boss rather curtly intro- { duced him to a somewhat unkempt, | unhealthy appearing young man seated | at his right. Jones, we are making a change the first of the month, and Mr. McBlur here will take over your work. Before leaving you may draw an additional two weeks’ salary from the cashier, and if you need a recommendation, refer the parties to me. That's all. . Jones groped his way back to his de Stunned though he was, a question came to | | his mind... Turning to the assistant book- “Tl never say another word about Peter’s getting errands balled up. Yester- day he brought me home the loveliest ear- rings!” “Just what you'd asked him for?” “Oh, no, that’s it. keeper he asked: ‘‘Who’s this McBlur?”’ phew of old man McBlur's.” “Who's old man McBlur?” “His son just married the boss's sister-in-law.” A new light broke over Jones. Co- incident with it came a cold and clammy perspiration which he mechan- ically wiped from his-neck ere it wilted hi natty Javlin collar, “Worn by Winners.” tae Farmer Whiffle —What's that there book you're readin’, Joe? Son—‘ Black Oxen.” Now, what's the sense o’ fillin’ your head with ancient hist’ry when there's several books on tractors and gas engines layin’ around the house tae At six months it isillness. One year—teething. Eighteen months —cute alertness. Two years—pure cussedness. sae plex an’ you got hi As a cause of 10 I'd told him herrings.” profanity the insidious ba peel. is outclassed entirely by the discarded and utterly depraved cud of chewing gum Rated “Why does Boggs, the dramatist, always sit out his first nights in the last row? “For quick exit—in case of misfire!” ery There’s plenty of room at the top.” “T guess that’s where we'll have to park our cars.” “Now remember, Kip, work on this guy’s inferiority com- “Wouldn’t I get him quicker if I socked him on the jaw?” comicbooks.com