Judge, 1925-11-21 · page 8 of 40
Judge — November 21, 1925 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "The Adventures of Flubb and Tubb" This is a satirical comic strip mocking corporate bureaucracy and obsequious workplace culture. A. Henry Flubb, the flower pot company owner, is portrayed as an absurdly self-important executive who spends his time composing vapid motivational "wall mottoes" rather than actual work. His employee Tobias Tubb is the archetypal yes-man, breathlessly praising Flubb's mediocre creativity with exaggerated flattery. The satire centers on corporate pretense: Flubb's mottoes are platitudinous drivel ("A Mission Faithfully Fulfilled Makes the Angels Sing"), yet they're treated as profound wisdom. When Tobias offers to pay a printer's debt, Flubb's solution involves ludicrous bureaucratic procedures—auditors, vouchers, comptrollers, and vice-presidents—to accomplish a simple transaction. The bottom cartoon depicts an accident, captioned to suggest the story continues. The piece ridicules early-twentieth-century corporate inefficiency, flattery culture, and the gap between executive self-regard and actual competence.
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The Adventures of Flubb anéTubb Auctions Speak Louder Than Words 1ss Perkins, telephone oper- ator extraordinary and pinch-hitting filing clerk for the Flubb Flower Pot Company, deftly transferred the unchewed remnants of a spongy gum-drop from the starboard to the port side of her adorable mouth and indiffer- ently plugged a line into the exten- sion marked “Mr. Tubb.” Be it known that this extension connected the world with the telephone of Mr. Tobias Tubb, our modest hero and third assistant traffic manager of the Flubb Flower Pot Company— “Makers of the Flower Pot That Breeds Contented, Healthy Flowers.” “Mister Flubbwanseeyuh,” an- nounced Miss Perkins, as bored as a trained seal after three years in vaudeville. Tobias timidly approached the massive bulk of A. Henry Flubb, who was busily engaged in polishing his diamond ring and concocting new wall mottoes. Mr. Flubb pas- sionately loved flower pots, but his absorbing hobby was the writing of wall mottoes, to be framed and hung over executives’ desks. “It May Rain To-day But the Sun Will Shine the Week After Next” was Mr. Flubb’s best known wall motto Uf | ill yey | and hung over the desk of every flower pot manufacturer in the United States. “Tobias,” softly whispered Mr. Flubb, the gleam of creative effort in his watery eyes, “I’ve just composed a new wall motto which will ring ’round the civilized and flower pot world.” Tobias knew what was ex- pected of him. Let no one say that Tobias was not resourceful. “Tell it to me, Mr. Flubb,” he said simply, clasping his hands and gazing down at a cigarette burn in the carpet. “A Mission Faithfully Fulfilled Makes the Angels Sing,” softly said SDs BON ae | Mr. Flubb, casting his eyes modestly to the waste-paper basket in which reposed the broken remnants of a competitor’s flower pot. “Glorious,” breathed Tobias, his eyelids closed. ‘Worthy of Shakes- peare. Oh, Mr. Flubb,” he added, in a burst of well-mannered rapture, “You have a divine gift. You are an artist—” “And the best flower pot manu- facturer in the world,” modestly interrupted Mr. Flubb, holding his face in his hands and turning away in blushing embarrassment. “Shall I have it printed?” asked Tobias. ‘‘You owe it to the world— to generations yet unborn—to those souls—” “And I owe the printer $300 for the printing of my last motto: ‘Only Dubs Stay in Debt—Don’t Be a Dub,’ ” exclaimed Mr. Flubb. “Why not let me pay him?” sug- gested Tobias. “S capital idea. A splendid idea, Tobias,” shouted Mr. Flubb. “Have the auditor prepare a voucher on form 1XL300. Have it okayed by the cashier and paymaster. Then ask Miss Hennaberry to initial it. Have it countersigned by the comp- troller and two or three vice-presi- dents. Then bring it to me and you'll get the money.” (Continued on page 24) Unrortunate—Hey! Will one of you fellas run and get some help? comicbooks.com