Judge, 1924-01-19 · page 12 of 36
Judge — January 19, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "First Grade Catechism" — Judge Magazine Satire This page satirizes early-1900s American middle-class masculinity through a fake "catechism" (religious instruction format). The humor targets the stereotypical businessman: **The Main Satire:** The "Man" is portrayed as defined by shallow, materialistic pursuits—commuting to work, playing golf, smoking cigars, riding in cars—rather than meaningful virtue. The absurd "answers" mock how society actually values these behaviors. **Specific Jabs:** His long legs help him "get in and out of his car"; he needs two hands to hold a cigarette; he "passes the plate" at church (implying performative religiosity). His house contains a wife, children, and a cellar—presented with the same blank acceptance as furniture. **The Broader Point:** By using religious catechism format (teaching children basic faith), Judge implies this consumerist lifestyle *is* the modern American religion. The wife "believes" his lies; the children will too—perpetuating the cycle. The accompanying cartoons reinforce themes of male foolishness and social hypocrisy, typical of Judge's commentary on Gilded Age pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
First Grade Catechism Lesson 1. THE Man SF Tne MAN. How big and brave he looks! Who made the man? The Lord made him. Why did the Lord do so? That is for us to find out. The ways of the Lord are past find-ing out. Why are the man’s legs so long? So that he may get in and out of his car eas- that his feet may rest on the top of his desk whi his swiv-el chair. Why does the man have two hands? Be-cause it takes one hand to hold a cig-ar. What does the man do for a liv-ing? He rides down town. How long does the man stay down town? THE SHOWER BATH Un-til time to play golf or some-thing. Husband (after prolonged roaring)— Minnie! Please bring volume one of “Knowledge Is Power”—I’m all soaped up and the water’s shut off! Al-so t-ting in at he is a nice man? se he is a ma-son. Al-so he pass-es the plate in the big church. Dashing His Hopes Short—I am looking for a man willing to loan me $10. Shorter—Well, nice day for it! SAF Ata D. A. R. meeting where “Virtues of Ancestors” is always a current topic: “And my grandmother had a goiter on my father’s side.” sas Self-destruction A DESPONDENT young man +% named Cl. To a Chinese eating-place hied, He ate and he ate and the papers now state He committed chopsouy-side! Sympathetic Cop—Y’ mean t’ say all this happened t’ ye J. \, ery because ye talked back t’ yer wife? Well, whatta y’ got t’ Ue! say now? ct R. “He's a membah of de Ways an’ The Worm (gamely)—It was worth it! v4 Means Committee.” I “Is, is he? Den he’s sure in de ‘ right place. Dat niggah knows I moah ways ob bein’ mean den any What is the big build-ing on the hill? F otha culled man I know!” That is the man’s house. ¢ Is it a nice house? i It is a ver-y nice house. l What does the man keep in his house? The man keeps man-y things in his house, a-mong them a wife and some chil-dren. Does the man talk to his wife and chil-dren? c Yes, the man tells his wife and chil-dren beau-ti-ful fair-y t sto-ries. I Do the man’s wife and chil-dren be-lieve his fair-y sto-ri c The chil-dren do. t What is that fun-ny place un-der the man’s house? ! That is the cel-lar. c What does the man have in his cel-lar? \ He has coal and oth-er things to keep him warm in the i win-ter and cool in the sum-mer. a What are the oth-er things? k That is for us to find out. c Se-lah. Olive A, Smith. What is there in heredity? comicbooks.com