Judge, 1923-12-08 · page 9 of 36
Judge — December 8, 1923 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Christmas Cigars: And the Man Who Couldn't Wait" This satirical comic strip depicts a man's impatience with a gift-wrapped package labeled "Not to be opened till Christmas." The sequence shows his escalating attempts to open it—first asking permission, then becoming increasingly agitated and frustrated, eventually resorting to tools and force. The accompanying text aphorisms mock human nature: a "true friend" keeps quiet about your faults; broken weighing machines are profitable because people drop money in slots regardless; and "opportunity" doesn't announce itself loudly. The central satire targets impatience and lack of self-control—specifically, the inability to wait for gratification. It's a commentary on human weakness and instant-gratification impulses, likely resonating with contemporary readers about holiday gift-giving customs and personal discipline.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“pe take this pair.” said the young athlete who had been looking at { shoes. “The other make will give you much better service in the long run,” suggested the salesman. “Oh, but I'm not in any of the long runs. Tm only in the fifty-yard dash.” THE CHRISTMAS CIGARS And the man who couldn't wait A true friend is one who knows how good-for-nothing you are and keeps it to himself, rrr “That weighing machine doesn’t regis- ter. Why don’t vou have it fixe “What's the use? People will drop money wherever they see a slot.” Frequently the newspapers publish stories of sanity being restored by a blow on the head. “We w fit would be illegal to arm the s -at-arms of Congress with lead billies. wat Opportunity is never accused of being much of a knocker. comicbooks.com