Judge, 1927-02-19 · page 7 of 36
Judge — February 19, 1927 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Pool" by S.J. Perelman This is a short story rather than a political cartoon. The page shows a scene between a man and woman by the sea, with the caption "She threw a roguish glance at him." The narrative describes the unnamed narrator's romantic entanglement with a woman named Elaine. The story satirizes early 20th-century romantic courtship through comedic social situations: the narrator attends Elaine's cabaret performance, they awkwardly navigate a party invitation, and he's disturbed by noises from bean-bag games in an adjacent room. Perelman's humor relies on mundane domestic details and the narrator's hapless, self-deprecating observations about romance and social awkwardness—typical of his witty, sophisticated comic writing style that appeared frequently in Judge magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE She threw a roguish glance at him. satisfied. But I can’t afford to buy wood to whittle now; in fact, I’m starvi oe hat’s too bad,” said Sallye, “I’m in the chorus, but perhaps Elaine here could get you a job playing your bass viol in her cabaret.” “Sure!” said ine, and they left soon after. The next day Elaine told me to the cabaret where she worked and I was given a job shoveling cracked ice for the cocktails. The pay was poor, but I could now afford to buy wood for whittling and I was happy once in. One night I passing through the hallway coming from work when a viper in human form who lived on my floor passed me in the gloom and snatched at my ankles. I immediately floored him with a short jab to the heart and he took the count, but in a mo- ment he was on his feet and infighting furiously. He PO OL df Vert an tried to stagger me with a right cross to the head, but I blocked it with a vicious left hook on his chin, just as the bell saved him. After this episode I determined to spend that night in Sallye’s room, and I went in and told her so. She showed me into a small bed room adjoining her large room. “We're having a party here this evening, deari said Elaine, “why don’t you come in on it?” “No thanks,” I said, “I have to go to bed early; I'm going on an auto ride tomorrow night and I got to be in shape to walk back.” I soon retired and was hardly asleep when I was awakened by the noise of revels in the next room. Much as I hate to say it, I distinctly heard the noise of bean-bags and several oaths which could only belong to the game of “hop-scotch.” I listened to (Continued on page 27) comicbooks.com