Judge, 1928-03-31 · page 30 of 36
Judge — March 31, 1928 — page 30: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page consists primarily of a **Statler Hotels advertisement** promoting radios in hotel rooms, paired with a satirical editorial commentary on contemporary literary criticism. The editorial, titled "High Heels," mocks the recent "Revolt in the Desert"—a campaign by author **Louis Bromfield** attacking professional book and theater critics as self-serving "exhibitionists" who misuse literature as props for their own egos rather than offering genuine criticism. The satire lists prominent critics of the era—**H.L. Mencken, Will Durant, Alexander Woollcott, Deems Taylor, Bruce Barton, Edgar Guest, Walter Winchell, Graham McNamee**—as if their works were paintings in an exhibition, ridiculing their pretensions. The author then notes that even entertainer **George M. Cohan** has joined Bromfield in attacking critics, particularly **Heywood Broun**. The piece concludes by defending intelligent criticism while gently mocking the author's own status as a mere "flapper" reviewer rather than serious critic.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Statlermales hotels morehome- lhe with « «+ « radio in every room ! Next to spending an evening or week-end at home—a Statler is the best place. You can stretch out in thesame homey, restful comfort —enjoy the radio with- out leaving your room. Choice of two carefully selected programs al- ways available. Of course, there’s no charge, and the recep- tion is unsurpassed. You're sure of a pleas- ant week-end when you plan to be in a Statler over Sunday. Prroterin ‘There are Statler Hotels ta BOSTON BUFFALO (Hotel Statler and Hotel Buffalo) CLEVELAND DETROIT + ST.LOUIS NEW YORK (Hotel Pennsylvania, Statler-Operated) Hotel Statler 7,700 Rooms with bath and fadio reception. Fixed, un~ changing rates posted in all rooms. I'm actually all hot Have just read Louis Bromtield’s (to my mind, perfectly justifiable) indictment and bothered eneral in “Mirrors and I feel so small bridge table without bending ov my highest heels! And here I f cur critic! Think how the must feel! Mr. Bromfield, who, in case you don't know it, is the author of “Early Autumn,” “The Green Bay Tree” and “A Good Woman,” claims that there is no such thing in this day and age as intelligent criticism and espe- cially criticism in its real sense. He states very bluntly that our critics merely use a book or play, or anything, just as a peg to hang thei wn stuff on and that the whole kit and kaboodle of them are cheap self-exploiters. And in my childish mind something tells me the gentleman is correct! But Mr. Bromfield is not the only one who is out gunning for the poor critics. There seems to be a gathering wave of hostile propaganda that is doing its best to oust the “exhibitionists,” as Mr. Bromfield calls them, out of their cozy trenches. ‘The funny thing in this great “Revolt in the Desert” (accent on the last syl- lable in Desert!) is that the hardy mutineers use nothing but high explosive inuendoes for their bar- rage. Who are these “exhibition- ists”? Well, this little girl, hav- ing been converted, will turn state's de} If th i “critics” held an exhibition their works, the catalog might read something like this: No. 38—“Much Ado About Noth- ing” (H. L. Mencken) No. 78—"Portrait of a Philoso- pher” (Will Durant) No. 26—“The Critic” (William Lyon Phelps) (Loaned by Yale University) No. 23—‘It Seems to Me” (Hey- wood Broun) (Loaned by N. Y. World) No. 99—“The Conning Tower” pstroes (F.P. A.) (loaned by NOY, World) 43—" At the “ Meanie’ Ny Play" (Alec * Woolleott (Loaned World) “The Musician” (Deems ylor) 7—"Religion” (Bruce Bar- ton) Poem” (Edgar No. wart) No. 4 he Inquiring Colum- (Walter Winchell) No. ‘The Broade (Graham McNamee) No. 11—"The Athlete” Igoe) Note. All of these subjects should be “hung” very high! aS As we go to press (I love that phrase!) Geo. M. Cohan joins the ranks of the critic baiters and razzes Heywood Broun and the rest of his ¢ To which Mr. Broun replies, “For years I have fought against the notion th am a kindly man, and in endeav- oring to escape that charge I have resolved to do something mean to some one person at least once a month.” Why, Mr. Broun! You are entirely too modest! Surely the Book of the Month Club has more than one member. And before I am executed as a spy, L would like to m little defense in itor of this m me in one day and, adjusting his monocle, 1, “Judgette, I'in fed up on all these dried-up book re- views! You're a flapper and rather intelligent! (Hear! Hear!) Why don’t you review books? Don't try to be a critic—just tell the other flappers what books you like and what ones you don't. N’est-ce pas?” So, gentle readers, remember I am not a critic. Just a severe pal! (Hype comicbooks.com