Judge, 1927-05-28 · page 20 of 36
Judge — May 28, 1927 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains humorous anecdotes about public speaking and social embarrassment, typical of Judge magazine's satirical humor. **Main Story:** A timid office worker ("Jones") is repeatedly called upon during business meetings but freezes, unable to speak. Envying a confident colleague, he purchases a mail-order "Course" on public speaking for $3.97 (humorously misstated as costing more). After studying it diligently despite initial disappointment, he gains confidence. When finally asked for his opinion again, he attempts to speak but immediately becomes the subject of ridicule—the satire being that the expensive course teaches nothing, and his "muddy complexion" (likely racial/ethnic coded appearance) is the real barrier to acceptance, not lack of oratorical skill. **Supporting humor:** Includes a crude joke about an old woman ordering boneless meat from a butcher, and brief cartoon vignettes about domestic life and sight-seeing. The satire targets both mail-order self-improvement schemes and workplace social hierarchies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Jos LOOK. BOYS: THE MOUNTED ALWAYS GET THEIR MAN: A shoe-clerk named Butts or Gregory or something told us this panic the other night in a gin-mill. It appears that an old lady went into a butcher shop and said, “Hey, Finkle, I want a nice piece of meat — without any fat or gristle or bone in it!” “Say, Rosie,” replied the jolly butcher, “if that’s what you want, I think you better buy an egg!” Crimson with shame, the old lady cut a sorry figure. They Jeered at Me— And Then I Sent for the Course! “What do you think, Jones?” We were all in conference and the President called on me for my views. I was petrified, tongue- tied, paralysed—for I had been shakes!! shree ’clock a’ready?” “Goo’nesh Hic— paying absolutely no attention to the discussion. “WI ” I stammered, and with disgusted look the President called upon Smith. Miserably I sat down and list- ened, while Smith, with all the as- surance in the world, gave his opinion. “Boss,” he boomed, “you ain't got any sense at all. Now you'd be a damn fool if you And he went on, holding his audience spellbound. How I envied his eloquence! My very scalp itched. Phat night I saw an ad in a », and several weeks later I clipped and mailed the coupon. But I heard nothing from it be- cause I had failed to fill in my name and address. Undaunted, I sent in another, Give this little girl a hand! The Course arrived and I saw that there was no trick, no magic, no mystery about becoming a convincing speaker. In fact,. I was pretty darn mad that I had laid out ten dollars, plus a few cents postage ($3.97), for the outfit. But I studied it, for I made up my mind that I should become a powerful speaker in spite of my muddy complexion. At the next meeting my as- sociates snickered as I entered the room and I smiled grimly. Laugh at me, would th I'd show them! nally my oppor- tunity came — the President called upon me again. “What do you think, Jones?” he asked, his eyes twinkling. Amused glances were turned my With perfect confidence I arose to speak, but just as I Streepte Jack—This cer- tainly is a grand view! I only wish I had brought Mary and the kids. mouth chuckled and in five seconds the conference room roars of laughter. gave me a should have this Course. for the ng booklet. urNey Wixtiams, Jr. opened = my someone echoed with They never chance! But you Send en She just washed her heir; e can’t doa thing with it. 18 comicbooks.com