Judge, 1928-06-30 · page 21 of 37
Judge — June 30, 1928 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the competitive social climbing and conspicuous consumption of the American wealthy class, likely from the 1920s era. **The Main Cartoon** depicts a woman with an absurdly voluminous crinoline skirt complaining to her husband about having "nothing to wear" to a rival's tea party—a classic joke about feminine excess and status anxiety. **The Letter Satire** is more pointed: "Tom Collins" and "Stuart Hemingway" (a likely pseudonym) mock the desperate social rivalry between wealthy hosts competing for the same guests. The fictional "Johnny Cocktail" is being pressured to attend their party instead of the "Van Swanks'" through a humiliating follow-up letter. The hosts boast about their liquor quality, guest lists, and entertainment while transparently admitting they're losing to competitors. The satire targets: excessive drinking ("snootfull"), ostentatious gift displays, and the shallow status-obsessed world where hosting parties is a competitive sport. Names like "Scofflaw," "Van Swank," and "Johnny Cocktail" mock both the pretentiousness and the Prohibition-era drinking culture underlying this social hierarchy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE COME AND GET A SNOOT- FULL. You May Have Missed Other Weddings, But Don't Be an Ass This Time! Use the Enclosed Wire Blank to Secure Reservations. MR, and MRS. LY-SPRINGFIELD. P. S.—The Wedding Presents Will Be on Display Both Before and After the Reception. Each Gift Will Be Tagged With the Donor’s Name. Gifts Should Be Addressed to Nellie, Care of Us. (An Invitation to a Week-End Party) Johnny Cocktail Esq. The Bronx My dear Cocktail: When T called on you a few days ago you gave me every rea- son to believe that we could count on you for the week-end of the ghteenth. I never for one mo- ment believed that it would be necessary to write you a follow- up letter. What seems to be the trouble? “How d’you expect I’m going to go to Mrs. Van Tweet’s tea tomorrow, Amos? I haven't a thing to wear!” 1 will willingly acknowledge that the Van Swank’s party at I Vis going to be a good ar be it from me te cramp the style of a competitor. How ever, let me again cover a few of the points we discussed at our last mecting. You mentioned that my Scotch didn't have as mue Schuyler Van Swank’: my gin was godawful. Permit me to again remind you that. the Scote (or rather, what Van Swank called Scotch) he fed you at that Washington's Birthday party is only $4 quart. As for the yin, we both get it from the same at's that. kick coming lined up. We've had a complet: turn-over your last visit. You scemed to like their photo graphs all right when I showed them to you on Wednesday. (Five of them, by the way, have already turned do F ation to the Van Swank's.) As for our program of events— CAT'S! Golf, since tennis, “he Pen swimming, dancing, necking, plenty of snifters—and all that You won't be sorry vou came to us instead of the Van Swanks. We stand back of that guarantee to the letter. The purpose of this letter, Cocktail, is not to give you 4 other solicitation, You alre know our story pretty well, are well acquainted with major reasons for spending a week-end at SCOFFLAW. The ter rests entirely with you. We've had mighty cordial rela tions in the past; don’t let's sever them now, just because of a slight misunderstandin BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT! Just sign the enclosed post card and Ul have the Buick at the station to meet your train, We have a very high regard for your company, so give us a chance to show what we can do. Trusting to favorably, hear from you Very truly yours, TOM COLLINS. Sruanr Hesixway comicbooks.com