Judge, 1927-12-10 · page 11 of 36
Judge — December 10, 1927 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Judge" Magazine Mail Order Satire Page This page satirizes mail-order catalog culture through absurdist fake product advertisements. The joke is selling deliberately useless or ridiculous items as desirable purchases: - A $3,987 paperweight (Wellington at Waterloo figurine) - A "Little Midget Shaving Machine" (steam/gasoline-powered, unnecessarily complex) - An ornate Gothic toothbrush holder imported from Paris - A reading lamp attachment for hydrants (to improve men sitting in gutters) - Horseshoes for a three-legged pony The accompanying story "Case 218" appears unrelated—a narrative about a possibly deranged hospital patient. The overall effect mocks consumer excess and the gullibility of mail-order shoppers, using exaggeration and the incongruity between lavish descriptions and worthless products to create humor. This reflects early 20th-century skepticism toward aggressive advertising and catalog marketing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Shoppers! Bargain-hunters! Look at the above catalogue and die of Joy! Everything as Beautiful as it is Useful! Order EARLY... Before itis TOO LATE! Our Own Mail Order Department | j Decorative and Inspirational The Little Midget Shaving Machine j his nobby little paper weight is of bronze Surprise your husband with one of these! Not | i will take a very high polish. It represents very dangerous, and takes less than twice as long Wellington at Waterloo and retails at $3,987.00. as the old-fashioned way. ; (Steam—$800.00 ; Gasoline—$845.00; . The Gothic Toothbrush Water Power—S600.00 ) i Holder (Left) Complete with gargoyles, Special Drop-Light Attachment for Hydrants tr spires and stained glass Fou can’t cure a man of sitting in gutters. But } windows. This will brighten What you can do is help him improve his mind | up the bathroom no end. while he sits there! Fit out your husband with | | (Imported from Paris — this reading lamp and a set of Shakespeare. | $12,000.00 the doz.) ; | ‘ i % Something You’ve Always Wanted! A complete set of horse-shoes for a three- legged pony. Handsomely mounted on red plush in a real teakwood box—(ONLY 4 | x a!) \f Case 218 limp. It looked as though it had and made at me with an uneanny i I ing 217 T entered been twisted. One of his arms — expression of delight. 1) made the next cell with the keeper, Was in a sling. ready to flee. “Don't be afraid,” | “This man * * *" he began. 1 He wouldn't have impressed said the keeper. “Hes harm i) | silenced him. I was too much — me so much if it hadn’t been for less. Al | absorbed in the pitiful case be- his peculiar actions. On his face Before I could — remonstrate t , fore me. His left foot was 9 was an i tiating, a sickly op- further the poor fellow had his f | swathed in binding. He was on timistie smile. He limped con- ene good arm lovingly asound my i) | erutehes. A football hero per-— tinually around the room with shoulder. He wanted to tell me i haps. Around his head there — this queer expression, muttering —@ secret, I percvived, so T bore it ih } | was another bandage There some monotonous chant as he patiently as he whispered into were cuts on his Hm! went. It was this that led me to ™y ear: “Do your Christmas i | Possibly a war veteran nursing recognize him as permanently — shopping early.” \ ten-year injuries. His neck was cuckoo, - Suddenly he saw me Parke Cumsines i 1 ri 9 ] i comicbooks.com