Judge, 1928-07-21 · page 11 of 36
Judge — July 21, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* contains two distinct pieces: **The Cartoon (top):** "Wire—Fall faster, Albert, don't let those silly Joneses pass us" depicts figures falling or tumbling through clouds and debris. This appears to be satirizing competitive social climbing or financial competition during the early 20th century—the "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. The reference to "Joneses" suggests wealthy neighbors whom people felt pressured to match in lifestyle. **The Story (bottom):** "The Psychological Novel Man Tackles Messrs. Mutt and Jeff" is a parody of modernist psychological fiction (then trendy). It mocks the overwrought introspection of literary novels by applying intense, brooding analysis to the comic strip characters Mutt and Jeff—known for simple slapstick humor. The joke: treating comedic characters' mundane observations about a woman's short leg with pseudo-intellectual depth. This satirizes the pretentiousness of psychological realism in contemporary literature. The brief joke about "dry law" references Prohibition-era constraints on alcohol.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Wire—Fall faster, Albert, don't let those silly Joneses pass us. far as to predict that [will be riding for a two smart cracked am navigating are falls, while one or Alexanders have ring that I ary washer wise on he and said that I should be “col lared” before it is too | and that I will receive many a “cuff.” But to these Iocan reply with Moses, the gre pride gocth bef them paste that smoke it. Well, [hope that all my well wishers will n hand” to see me t the ve r, and it cer- tainly will be a gay scene, with all the flags flying and the bunt- ing. Everybedy should little bunting to give me cou and T hope there will be no there so law-giver, that a falls, and let nh their hat and wear a pessimistic as to be caught with their bunts down— ha! ha! ha! od luck and I will write you from the Cave of the Winds. —Prereiman The only thing the teeth in the dry law the ra © used for is chewing The Psychological Novel Man Tackles Messrs. Mutt and Jeff Mutt advanced, a queer feeling in the back of his mind. He looked at the smaller man, remem- remembering. ‘This why did he despis« him so? And yet talk to him he must. Destiny—it was all a part of his destiny. “Seth” he said, and a new note came into his voice, such as had not been many ‘Jeff, do Jones?" Jeff thought, his left hand play- ing absently with the There stood Mutt talking, talking of Miss Jones, Mutt, who had had so much to do with—, But not even to himself could he think of that. He turned a little, and watehed the gardener trimming the hedge. “She had a short leg,” he said hollowly. bering... little man there in years you remember” Miss gardenias. before him, But to go on like this, thought Jeff; that was impossible. There was the free world about, a world of sun and light and joy —if they would but let it) be pus. He striving ‘to hide the grim smile which could not quite be restrained. He must be casual; swallowed, casual, “Isn't it remarkable.” he asked, “how the law of compensation operates? Every person who has one leg shorter than the other has the other one longer to make up for it.” Mutt turned a little re the mottled light’ beneath the magnolia streaked his He drew a sudden breath Only now did he r heroism of the little to hide his emotion ry there wl face. ize the chap. And > reached for He wondered dully, while he swung it, whether Jeff noticed the nervous working of his lips. the sledge-hammer. It took war to change the map of Europe and plastic surgery to change the maps of America. R.C.O. agreed Mutt. “One of her 1 was shorter than the other.” rn rE comi