Judge, 1925-08-15 · page 28 of 37
Judge — August 15, 1925 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising for Judge magazine's art prints** (left column) and a **humorous short story** (right side). The illustrated cartoon accompanying the story shows a crowd of well-dressed people entering what appears to be a formal ballroom or social event, referencing an etiquette guide by Mr. Smith titled "How to Enter a Ballroom." The story itself is a comedic narrative about a man named Charles attempting to assemble a prefabricated hen house—a common mail-order item of the era. The humor derives from his mounting frustration and profanity as the poorly-designed pieces don't fit together properly. His wife eventually abandons him, stuffing cotton in her ears to escape his cursing. This reflects early 20th-century domesticity: the contrast between genteel social expectations and the messy reality of DIY home projects, plus gentle satire of men's incompetence at practical tasks and their colorful language when frustrated.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AHOY SAILOR “THE SPANISH BARK” By J. D. Gleason A fine reproduction in brilliant coloring, that will appeal to all who love the sea. Prints are 754 x 9 inches, without borders. Care- fully packed and sent postpaid. 50 Cents each THEN and NOW “JUST A SONG AT TWILIGHT” By Delevante Printed on Heavy Art Plate peret. with wide margins. Size about 19 x [5 inches. Sent postpaid to any address on receipt of 50 Cents each THE DARLING 4 “THE CURSE OF DRINK” By Maud Tousey Fangel One of the sweetest baby pictures JUDGE has ever published. _ Printed in three colors on heavy art mat. | Size 9 x 12 inches. 25 Cents each JUDGE ART PRINT DEPARTMENT 627 West 43d Street New York Enter Mr. Smith, the author of “How to Enter a Ballroom.” —London Mail The Hen House square piece of wood that he had firmly fixed into the ground and embracing another large square piece I‘ was Charles who bought the of wood which was in danger of en- wretched thing. I disclaim all ulfing him. . responsibility. Ididn’t even offer to “I say, do hurry up!” he panted. help him put it up. In fact, when I can’t possibly hold up the thing he asked me casually if I’d care to and nail it together at the same | run over and give him a hand, I said time, and — Oh, damm!” 8 z He exploded the last word from quite distinctly, “No.” It was only beneath the side which had finally later when Charles’ wife rang me collapsed on him. I dug him out up tearfully to say that Charles had and pacified him (he said at first crushed one of his thumbs with the that his neck was broken), and we hammer and was _ growing more worked hard for an hour. One side blasphemous each minute and would seemed the wrong shape till we dis- Ibe an angel and come and help that covered that it was marked “floor.” T relented. and that the first piece that Charles It was a sort of reach-me-down had embedded so deeply in the earth hen house, sent from the manufac- was marked “side.” So we took it turers already made into four sides, all to pieces and began again, and a roof, and a floor, and all'you had to Charles’ wife went right to the other do was to hammer them together. side of the house and put cotton wool I found Charles in his shirt sleeves, _in her ears. a stream of perspiration issuing from At last we got the roof and three | his brow and a stream of profanity sides together. There was only the from his lips, standing on a large _ last side to fix on, so Charles stood comicbooks.com by Richard Crompton