Judge, 1927-11-05 · page 12 of 36
Judge — November 5, 1927 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Care and Feeding of the Baby" — S.J. Perelman, Judge Magazine This is a humorous article by writer S.J. Perelman (credited as "Instructor in Baby Culture at Yale") that satirizes wealthy, demanding young women of the era by treating them like infants requiring careful management. The joke: Perelman describes adult female companions as literal "babies" needing constant attention, expensive gifts, and indulgence. He advises male readers to pacify them with blank checks to luxury jewelers (Cartier's, Udall and Ballou's), dinner rings, and seed pearls—rather than actual food or reason. The accompanying cartoons show fashionable women in revealing 1920s-style clothing, emphasizing their frivolousness. The satire targets both the "flapper" generation and the men who enable their materialism. The final cartoon caption about "Lionel" and an aviator father adds class commentary: even privileged families can't control these demanding women. This reflects Jazz Age anxieties about changing female independence and consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Care and Feeding of the Baby By S. J. Pererman Instructor in Baby Culture at Yale As Autumn draws near we are approaching the season when Baby de ing attention than ever. Now is the time to begin thinking about new fall outfits for Baby, al- though, to tell the truth, Baby won't let you forget it—not if your baby anything like the ones I have been caring for lately. Like, for instance, the other night. I was sitting in a night club with this particular Baby, a dreamy blonde named Christine. All of a sudden she starts bending my ear with a long narrative about a hat she saw in Hickson’s and how did I think she was going to the Yale game with me, bareheaded? Well, boys, what can you do? If you start to let out a peep they begin banging on the table with a spoon and making a scene, and—Gosh, how I hate scene: If Baby shows signs of temper, the best thing to do is hand her a blank check on Cartier’s or Udall and Ballou’s and sunshine will ap- pear through the tears. Baby should never be crossed and the moment her pretty little face shows signs of puckering into sobs, a flock of charge accounts at all the better shops will re- lieve the situation. Never neglect to pet Baby if she has been good. Babies are a good deal like dogs and horses; if you don’t pet them they will show their teeth and sni And just as you would al a piece of sugar or a your pocket to reward Spot or Grey Lag, you will find it worth while to carry some little trinket like a dinner ring or rope of seed pearls for Baby. Now, how should Baby be fed? There is no use telling you to feed her sparingly because you will be reckoning without Baby. Her idea of a well-balanced diet includes lobsters, champagne, and all sorts of queer foods, and you as well be prepared to de- is always well, by the st that Baby take a chaser after straight whiskey or you will find yourself with a peck “Listen Lionel, father’s going to be displeased. He isn’t strong of trouble on your hands. If for aviators anyhow.” Baby shows signs of trying to Gimmick Trins—look just alike. Can you beat it?” “Here come the NT | \ AT 4 10 comicbooks.com