Judge, 1930-09-20 · page 8 of 36
Judge — September 20, 1930 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Wolf in the Servedor" by S.J. Perelman This is a humorous short story about a hotel manager (Mr. Versian) dealing with a guest who left his wolf in the servidor (storage room) for cleaning. The narrative involves escalating absurdity: the wolf won't be returned, it's being sent to a laundry, and there are disputes about shrinkage and proper care. The accompanying illustration shows a tree growing through a building's interior—likely depicting the surreal, chaotic situation described in the text. This appears to be satirical fiction rather than political commentary. The humor relies on the incongruity of treating a wolf like dry-cleaning and the bureaucratic confusion that ensues—typical of Perelman's absurdist comedy style popular in mid-20th century American magazines.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘aaa The Wolf in the Servidor By S. J. Perelman tiene has been such an avalon of letters the past two days whining for me to break silence on the Bam- Watkins wolf case that I would heel indeed to keep my lips sealed. Only this morning a round robin flew in the window, signed by the Chubby Bus-Boys’ Union, Local 119, of Batavia, Ill, demanding “Are you seal enough to keep your lips heeled on this burning question, viz the Bamberger-Watkins wolf cas Who so flinty as to turn a deaf ear to a chubby bus-boy? What churlish deaf-ear turner so callous that he could remain stony before this. win- some appeal It all started Tuesday in the office JUDGE of King James Versian, general man- ager of the Hotel Pennsyl ia. Mr, Versian’s office, richly simple in tone, was luxurial in the extreme; daft flitted about noiselessly waiting on our whim whilst we daw- dled over our root be new tariff arrivi take cl Seminoles rs discussii next Sund. ue. It was - splendoom. one of the of indeser: Suddenly Ridgely assistant managers, a Versian’s elbow and whispe thing into it. “Only 1,964 baths?" roared Ver- ‘What's become of the other 286? Are you trying to play hub with our motto, ‘2,200 rooms, 2,200 baths’? rts of the guests swipe sou- venirs,” stammered Simple. “Maybe A tree-sitter fires himself up for the winter. one of the bell-hops stole: me, come, Semple,” snarled cted the dignity. imple n with quic ‘Oh, vets,” sputtered Versian, “Between you and me, wasn’t it Julius ner before you short Why not call a spade a spad “What spade, sir?” asked Simple stupidly. Before ply, ots,” pressible offic “Hally gee a felly outside wid young boss,” Mr. Ver: him up.” We had searcely finished laughing at this shaft wher 1 gentleman swept in. ‘Lin Bamberger,” he began. “When t my wolf back demanded 1 scarlet- “Your wolf? helplessly. prsian. rd me, my wolf!" bawled “ZT put him in the servi- dor this morning to be dry-c d, and now they won't give him b: fore tomorrow night. I got to open with him in Wilmington tomorrow night or I lose seventeen thousand in the Delaware Oy explained arry my tools.” me,” interrupted Versian, “did you put your wolf ina bag when 1 placed in the servidor?” Sure I did,” admitted Bamberger. “Well, he’s ‘in the ba: 1 ri all right,” laughed probably got sent to the laundry by mistake “But he isn’t washable!" screamed Bamberger. “He'll shrink! Til sue— No, you won't,” cut in Ver umberger. Versian. at is it now boss, excitedly, “dey’s anudder shpalpeen out here by de name ob Watkins wants ter see y He was brushed aside by an indignant tight-lipped gentle- an with dark glasses. “They gave me the wrong wolf!” he bellowed. “I give a wolf to the valet to be sponged and pressed and now they want to ring in some moth- rots,” w eaten a on me!” isten, mugg, you'll eat those words!” barked Bamberger menac ingly. (Continued on page 24) comicbooks.com z ns | E77 A