Judge, 1928-10-13 · page 8 of 36
Judge — October 13, 1928 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "A Necessary Operation" This satirical story by Carroll Carroll mocks the vanity culture and consumerism of the Jazz Age. A beautiful woman visits a plastic surgeon demanding he move her left ear back—not for aesthetic reasons, but because her new French telephone doesn't fit properly against it. The joke satirizes: 1. **Frivolous cosmetic surgery trends** among wealthy women of the era 2. **Consumer obsession**: the woman prioritizes fashionable imported technology over her body's natural state 3. **Class pretension**: "smart French telephones" signals snobbish status-seeking 4. **Absurdist humor**: the surgeon's ethical objections contrast with the woman's illogical vanity The cartoon's framing dialogues about Chicago and Mencken (the famous social critic) suggest broader commentary on American materialism and aspiration. The accompanying aerial illustration about "gunmen's gats" and "racketeer war" references Prohibition-era violence, creating ironic juxtaposition: society obsesses over fashion while violence erupts outside.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE “My brother's living in Chi- penalty to old age or dissipation cago and I just got a letter id and eager to pay anything to have saying he’s delighted,” said the ravages of one or the other Jenkin to Mencken, “De- or both removed. lighted to’ be living in Chi- “Doctor, you must help me,” cago?” said Mencken. This she said. almost seems to have some You must be in the wrong of- connection with the draw- fice,” replied the doctor. ing. ; Are you not a plastic sur ge the client asked. “Yes, Iam; but what in the world need have you for a plastic surgeon? A SUNMEN’s GATS GROWL. ai teeta, "Doctue yon mer stat S RACKET EER WAR FLAME? help me. 1 want my left ear moved back about an inch. A Necessary Operation The doctor, who had made nearly as much money in the lift business as Otis, was nonplused. A woman with cheeks as soft and smooth as the petals of a rosebud 1 entered his off What could he do for her? Her face no lifting. There w kles.... No unpl ishes. Even a beauty spe would have hesitated to rub man made creams and lotions on such an exquisite complexion. She seated herself, the personi- fication of all feminine loveliness, in the doctor's consultation chair «+ a chair that had harbored ; many who were loath to pay a ry r guns se by aviators in the nest war. The doctor was astounded. Could he have overlooked the fact that this poor girl's ears were out of alignment. A hasty glance re- assured him, There they perfectly visible, perfe tiful and perfectly located. “My dear young lady,” he said, “T do not know what madness prompts this strange request, but it would be unethical, even for a plastic surgeon, to attempt so patently unnecessary and, I might add, dangerous operation.” “Danger or no danger,” sobbed the girl, “my left ear must. be moved back. I can't hear.” “But that has nothing to do with the position of your car!” “Oh, but doctor, it has! I've just had these new smart French telephones put in my house and they don't fit!” I: to the city without consulting us. —Cannotr Carrort comicbooks.com