Judge, 1924-03-08 · page 11 of 36
Judge — March 8, 1924 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Bedtime Stories—Grown-ups": The Story of "Her" and Hercules This is a humorous short story with accompanying cartoon, not political satire. It mocks the contradiction between male strength and domestic vulnerability. **The Plot:** A vaudeville "strong man" performer (Hercules) who bends iron bars and performs superhuman feats falls for and marries a woman. She becomes his enthusiastic supporter and manager. However, when a performance is canceled, the manager discovers the mighty Hercules cannot appear because he has a toothache—caused by biting into his wife's homemade nut cake. **The Joke:** The satire targets both genders—the supposedly invincible man undone by domestic life and his wife's cooking, while the wife's well-intentioned but damaging baking represents the hazards of home life. The cartoon below shows an elopement couple joking about saving money by avoiding wedding expenses. The "moral" mocks tightrope walkers stumbling on curbstones—small obstacles felling the skilled.
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The Story of ‘Her and Hercules ales! *he- MIGHTY MAN was Here 2d Yea, verily! A migh And he displayed his day man, ness” twice a or maybe in various vaudeville rs throughout the land; for be it known that Hercules was a strong man by profession. yy and three times: } the amazing feats that Hercules per various were formed. Cannon balls were as oranges in his hands. He tossed grown men about as if they were rag dolls. He lay upon a bed of nails while a dray horse walked upon his prostrate form. But most im- and astounding of all, were the things he did with his vise-like jaw and rock-ribbed teeth. He clamped his jaw upon great bars dd bent them into hoops. He could bite large spikes in two with a single bite. He chewed up chains and spit out links. Iron and steel were so pressivt of irot to him. THe was the living answer to the query, “Have you had your iron to-day?” much peanut candy Ww it chanced that Hercules met a half-portion — frail fell for her- vily—so heavily, that he bounded » of the peace and she and it into a justi married him. And all went merrily as a taxi meter. She attended all his perforn developed leader, he ices and into a most efficient cheer- activities being good for at least one encore on eating the hardware besides “Yes, dear. And before I Timid Eloper (with a sigh of relief)—Thank the Lord! We got away safely after all; didn’t forget—here’s dad’s check for half what we’re saving him on wedding two or three bows. This meant big time and a heavier envelope for the next contract. And she loved to make their flat homey and to cook for him. He loved to parade her along the lighted lane and dine with her in the well-known r But one day the the: he was at the time doing his stuff received word that Hercules would not be able to appear. ment would h to be canceled. It was the wife talking and no reason was assigned. The manager quickly summoned a taxi and hurried out to the nest. The wife tearfully told him that it was the truth, “Hercules could not go on.” “But wh inquired the greatly cone Je’s laid up with a toothache,” answered. “He br nut cake I made him. Morat—A_ tight-rope stumble on a curbstone. Hf. L. Morrer. aurants. er, in which His engage- manager, ned. she one off on some walker — may we, Jane? expenses.” comicbooks.com