Judge, 1930-10-18 · page 11 of 36
Judge — October 18, 1930 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Portrait of a Lady" - Judge Magazine Satire This story satirizes social hypocrisy and unspoken domestic tension. Mr. Dombittler extends a dinner invitation to an acquaintance but clearly hopes it will be declined—his forced politeness masks reluctance. When the guest accepts, Dombittler's obvious relief at learning of a prior engagement reveals the truth: his wife "Cora" likely demands he invite guests to appear hospitable, but Dombittler resents the obligation and the disruption to his evening. The satire centers on the gap between what people *say* socially ("my wife would be delighted") and what they actually *feel*. The author "knows" Mrs. Dombittler "like a book" despite never meeting her—she's a recognizable social type: the wife who insists on entertaining to maintain appearances while her husband dreads it. The cartoons above show unrelated Judge humor involving transportation and college education.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Portrait of a Lady I never met Mrs, Austin X. Dombittler, but I know her like a book, y afternoon at a quarter to five Mr. Dombittler ly glanced at his watch, “Nearly train time!" he exclaimed. “Now you're coming right up to take pot luck with us. I haven't had a chance to "phone the wife, but I know she'll be delighted to see you.” “T wouldn't think of troubling her,” I said. “No trouble at all,” boomed Dombittler. “Cora would he hurt if you didn’t come.” I may possibly have a sort of tentative date in town,” I said. “TL half promised Leonard that I would ‘phon him at his hotel for dinner if n came up.” Then you can't make it, ch?" 1 thought I detected a note of relief in Dombittler’s voice. “Well, I don’t know,” I said. “Hey, where d’ye think you're going?” Then Dombittler siniled, his first smile in ten minutes. “This is going to upset the Mrs. all right,” he said. “She always wants me to bring my friends up, ‘There's always enough for an extra one——" “Well, in that case.” [said with malice aforethought—— “Yes, it’s just a shame that you've made a date,” hastily tdded Dombittler. “The Mrs. and I can't be selfish, vou know, Leonard is in town all alone and if we kidnapped you he'd be sore. [ll express your regrets to Cora and maybe on your next trip to town you'll surely come up, Dombittler looked like a man in the death house whose sentence has “just been commuted to life imprison- ment. He shook hands hastily and ran for his train. “Fifteen dollars and twenty cents! Have y’ gotta T never met Mrs. Austin X. Dombittler, but I know blank cheek?" her like a book. —Antriuce L. Lirpaaxs 'NFOR MATION New plan for very popular college; students learn because they want to. 9 comicbooks.com