Judge — May 25, 1929 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Judge" Cartoon Page **Title & Setup:** "Hosts We've Met But Once: The fellow who puts us in the haunted room" **The Joke:** This is a social satire about inconsiderate hosts. The cartoon depicts a well-dressed man (the host) showing guests into a bedroom with obvious problems—hanging ropes (suggesting suicide), supernatural disturbances (floating figures in windows), and generally creepy/ominous conditions. **The Satire:** The humor targets hosts who assign guests to deliberately unpleasant or "haunted" accommodations, apparently as a prank or from careless indifference. It mocks the gap between social pleasantries ("we've met but once") and actual hospitality—the host maintains a courteous facade while obviously placing guests in uncomfortable or absurd situations. **Artist:** Credited to Gardner Read This reflects early 20th-century etiquette commentary about proper social behavior among the upper classes.