Judge — May 3, 1924 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Training School for Headwaiters This satirical cartoon mocks the exaggerated mannerisms and class pretensions of headwaiters in upscale restaurants. It presents five "lessons" teaching the stereotypical behaviors expected of the profession: proper posture and poise, maintaining a dignified demeanor ("erect carriage"), projecting practiced nonchalance, directing patrons with affected courtesy ("This way, please"), and most pointedly, displaying open contempt toward customers. The humor lies in exposing the headwaiter as a performer mastering theatrical affectation and barely-concealed disdain for those he serves—suggesting that restaurant hierarchy and snobbery were readily apparent to contemporary diners. The facial expressions panels emphasize how the "contempt" expression correlates with different price tiers, implying the attitude scales with the restaurant's pretension.