Judge, 1928-11-24 · page 11 of 36
Judge — November 24, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page satirizes the problem of unequal gift-giving among friends and relatives. The main story, "By These Presents," depicts a man named Jessup recruiting signatures for a protest against "Don't Open Until Christmas" labels. His argument: if recipients knew the true value of gifts received beforehand, they wouldn't overspend in return. The narrator realizes Jessup is right after recalling past inequities—he gave his cousin a $25 camera and received a $7 humidor back. The satire targets middle-class anxiety about social obligation and reciprocity. The phrase "An eye for an eye" suggests gift-giving should be strictly transactional rather than generous or emotional. Secondary humor includes brief jokes about a dog and ballet dancer (likely Pavlova), unequal relationships, and workplace dynamics. The cartoons are largely standalone gags rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE “Le’s hoof this one, Fokine.” “Hold it, Pavlova, I’m dog By These Presents “IT just want your signature to this protest,” said Jessup. “I've nothing to sell you, old man. Fact is, I've turned humanita 5 I'm on the side of Fair Pl. I only want your John Henry as a supporter of this worthy cause.” “What's your racket?” “It's an carly protest to the Post Office Department against these ‘Don't Open Until. Christ- mas’ labels. I want them to be and kept off Yule “Why?” 1 asked indiffe rently. => % SOKO TP Hewes “Wh - are you whistling that tune, Angelo?” “My girl just gave me the “To restore eq fair play in American gift giv- ing,” orated Jessup. “Let us sup- pose that you sent your Cousin Oscar a nice ten-dollar box of clear Havanas last year, and that you received a package from him containing 1 ninety-eight-cent necktie. Now if you had opened his package before Christmas and had scen that Oscar had squan- dered only ninety-eight cents on his beloved cousin, you certainly wouldn't handed him nine dollars and two cents’ worth of Christmas present for which you never got any return. Do you get the iv An eye for an eye. al rights and have Tur Mavam—IWhat’s th’ idea, leanin’ over like that? Him—Well, this is the front stoop, ain't it? A tic for a tie. A tooth for a tooth. A bauble for a bauble. Give what you get. Get what you give.” Through my mind flashed last year's inequalities: The jar slippers I six-dol- 1 sent Henry, and the two-dollar book he had sent me. The twelve-dollar cigar lighter I had presented to the boss, and the dollar-ninety-eight “silver” pencil I had received. The twenty-five dollar camera I had sent to this same now solicited my signature, and the seven-dollar humidor with which he had reciprocated! “Gimme your pencil!” I fierce- ly shouted. ‘Where do I sign?” Artur L, Lippmann essup who The lighthouse keeper's wife gets a carpet for the stairs. Automotive Note The hustling “self-starter” Who breezes through life Is frequently cranked-up, You'll find, by his wife! A Stone’s Throw If Carrie Nation were living y she'd be smashing speak- easy windows. All she'd have to do would be to stand in the middle of a block, close her eyes and throw a rock. Emprovee—Kin I ait off to- morrow, boss? I'd like to go ta a funeral. “Whose?” “Yours.” comicbooks.com