Judge, 1925-09-12 · page 11 of 37
Judge — September 12, 1925 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This satirical page mocks 1920s social types and cultural trends: **"Thin Lettuce and Tomato Man"** ridicules an ascetic, self-improving type who frequents drug store lunch counters, obsessively calculates tips, reads self-help literature, and practices "will power"—yet remains subordinate to the wealthy "Big Butter and Egg Man" (slang for a wealthy, flashy businessman). The satire targets pretentious self-improvement culture. **"Napoleon" Hall of Fame entry** jokes that Napoleon's fame derives entirely from secondary sources: his wife Josephine, a French pastry named after him, and Wellington's fame—and most absurdly, because Americans can imitate his pose (hand-in-coat) by simply wearing their hats sideways. **"Philadelphia" warns** visitors not to shoot letter-carriers, suggesting Philadelphia's reputation for violence. **"Dancing" critique** mocks youth dancing styles—men holding women at awkward angles (the "Laocoon Group" pose) while claiming to dance, and women doing exaggerated moves. The author dismisses modern dancing as ungraceful and ridiculous.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thin Lettuce and Tomato Man ut the world has heard of the Big Butter and Egg Man, and everyone can tell you the obvious earmarks by which he is recognized. But what of his antithesis, the Thin Lettuce and Tomato Man? How shall we know him? Easily! By his fruits we shall know him: The Thin Lettuce and Tomato Man lives on a drug store snack— Munches a salad sandwich and guzzles a malted milk. Presses the paper napkin meticu- lously to his lips. Tips scrupulously 10 per cent, computing the percentage by loga- rithmic tables. Is seen once in a while in the Gothie Room of Schraft’s. Wears suspenders. And an Adam's apple. And a white tie, And an umbrella, And _ rubbers. Reads the Times. Takes deep breaths and a cor- respondence course. Subscribes to Physical Culture, American Magazine, and the dog- matic theology of Doctor Frank Crane. Cultivates will power, oral English and personality. Weighs himself once a week. Ventures an opinion. Thinks success, Talks success, Wills success. But the Big Butter and Egg Man is his boss! SEEING AMERICA WORST D** clouds gather—more and more— How they grumble! How they frown! Then, how still it is before The first drop tumbles down! How we hurry! Steps so fleet! Sun is shining soon. All "cause Baby Boy won't eat His berries with a spoon! Harvey J. Duneka Judge Nominates for the Hall of Fame %, No. 1.—NAPOLEON EcausE he made the name of Josephine famous; because he was not responsible for the phrase: “Lafayette, we are here!”; because he had a French pastry named after him; because with- out him the world would never have heard of Wellington; but most of all, because, thanks to his altruistic foresight, by simply putting our hat on sideways and sticking one hand into the bosom of our coat and the other behind us, we are able to imitate him per- | feetly. OU are now entering PHILADEL- PHIA, Pa. Please do not shoot the letter- carriers. This week's stereopticon lecture, “Terpischore,” or, as they say in deah old Cambridge, “Dawncing.” Please hand me that slide of the “Laocoon Group,” Oscar. Thank you. Having visited several roof gar- dens lately and studied the antics of the “roof hoofers,” it grieves me to see how the “High Hatters,” in their endeavor to hold a girl ‘‘differently,” are proving the theory of evolution. We have, for example, the lad who holds his girl friend’s hand back over his shoulder, as illustrated here in said “Laocoon Group.’ It’s difficult to tell whether he’s going to hit the lady or swing her out the window. And the bouncing boy who holds his arm akimbo with the girl’s hand against his left vest pocket, and stands about six feet away from her. Ye Gods! Then there’s the bozo who's so used to riding in a flivver that he can’t stop jigging up and down when he gets on a dance floor. And the girls! Especially the clinging vines who look as if they were trying to do a back flip! And they call it dancing! . > The Six Best “Steppers”: “Sonya.” “I Miss My Swiss.” “I Want a Lovable Baby.” “Manhattan.” “Waiting for the Moon.” “All I Want is Love.” comicbooks.com