Judge, 1925-08-29 · page 10 of 36
Judge — August 29, 1925 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This page contains two satirical pieces about gender and marital dynamics in early 20th-century America. **"The Whale Wail"** is a humorous domestic dispute where a husband claims he was swallowed by a whale and couldn't contact his wife. The joke hinges on the wife's skepticism—she treats his excuse as an obvious lie ("fish story"), yet accepts it when he corrects her that whales are mammals, not fish. The satire mocks how easily men manipulate women through trivial "facts" and appeals to vanity. **"Summer Widowers"** depicts women left behind while husbands travel, framed as tragic figures ("miserable wretches"). The top cartoon shows a store customer complaining about inventory timing—wanting summer underwear but facing winter stock. **The "Epi-Laughs" section** jokes about women drivers, specifically a woman signaling a left turn while turning right—a period stereotype about female incompetence at driving. Overall, the page reflects 1920s-era attitudes treating women as gullible, dependent on men, and poor drivers—common satirical targets of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Whale Wail ~ ELL, where have you been?” furiously demanded Mrs. Jonah, as her seagoing husband sheepishly entered their bungalow, wringing the water out of his coat. “Now, darling,” cooed Jonah, “don't get yourself all excited. I wasn't able to get in touch with you....” “That's a likely story. Not even a postal card or a short note or even a wire from you. Here I’ve been sitting all alone up here in this ‘ InpicNaANT Customer—Hey! I came here to buy some summer underwear but now I want to get some woolens before winter sets in. bungalow in this God-forsaken place, with only Mrs. Noah to keep me company.” “Now, sweetheart,” commenced Jonah, “it was this way. I was swallowed by a whale and I couldn't get to a postoffice or telegraph station at all. This morning the whale sent me up again and the first thing I did was to come home to you. I would havewired you, butall my loose change got lost in the whale’s interior and I wasn’t able to do a thing.” “Sounds like a fish story,” snorted Mrs, Jonah. SUMMER WIDOWERS Group of miserable wretches mourning for their dear departeds. “Wrong!”’ triumphantly shrieked Jonah. “A whale is a mammal— not a fish. That’s how much you women know.” “Are you sure, darling?” ques- tioned Mrs. Jonah, obviously re- lenting. “Positively,” answered Jonah, aware that the crisis had passed. “If you're a dear sweet wife I'll take you for a walk along the beach to- night and show you the exact whale. You know,” he added, with a twinkle in his eye, “I'd walk a mile for a mammal.” PAD If the woman pays why do so many of them have charge accounts? wh UG we Pause here, dear friends, to shed a@ tear For Miss Amilia Bright. She ere @ perfect left-hand turn, Signaled to the right. A hee bes terre, er ne comicbooks.com