Judge, 1931-03-28 · page 10 of 36
Judge — March 28, 1931 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "What to Do With Your Bonus" This Judge page satirizes the get-rich-quick schemes and aggressive sales pitches that proliferated after workers received bonuses (likely post-WWI or during the 1920s boom). The main cartoon depicts a slick salesman convincing an older man to invest his bonus in dubious stock. The salesman uses classic high-pressure tactics: claiming the stock will "double or triple," insisting others are waiting to buy it, and offering payment plans so the buyer won't feel the cost immediately. The humor lies in recognizing this as obviously predatory—the salesman admits he's "sold on the issue" while simultaneously selling it away. The accompanying vignettes mock similar overconfidence: an overpriced car advertised with unrealistic promises, and a wife's frivolous spending plans (Bermuda vacation, furs, home renovations). Together, these satirize the era's rampant consumerism and naive financial decisions among newly prosperous ordinary people—the satirical point being that bonuses were being squandered on inflated investments and luxury purchases rather than prudently saved.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BONUS “No old man, your first wish is to secure the principal. But you must not forget income, and furthermore, don’t let anybody tell you that this stock hasn't a chance to double or even triple in value. Personally, I’m sold on the issue myself. I wouldn't be selling it to you if I wasn’t. You're getting in on the ground floor. Next week the chances are ten to one you won't be able to touch it. I don’t want any thanks, mind you. It’s strictly a business proposition, but being an old friend, let me tell you there’s a hundred fellows waiting to jump at this. They've got a wonderful idea, see, and they’re bound to clean up a lot of jack; now you could take a hundred shares of the Class C stock, 6 per cent preferred and participating, no par, that we ing at $7 per share. I don’t want to make your mouth water, see, but the com- pany’s got a contract to supply their entire output for one month to Briggs, and you know what that means. No, of course not. You don’t have to pay for the shares at once, “We convishcated all but thish bottle, sir.” We can handle that for you with a small carrying charge. It's a sweet investment and will provide you with a nice little nest egg for a rainy day. Take it from me, Mr. Bauer.” “Ves, sir, she’s a car that combines true economy with the height of luxury and efficiency. You said it, a sweet job! Take a “ook under that hood. College bred, stamina of a quarter-back, and style. Even the Rolls is copying our lines. Rudy Vallee “has j just bought the identical model. What coulé you buy that would pay bigger dividends? And don’t forget, free service for the first 5000 miles. What a value! Com pletely equipped, five tires, front and rear bumpers, and onl; $1750 f.o.b. Detroit. And you pay down only 175 bucks. Think of the good times in store for you this summer. Road houses, week- ends in the country, picnics . . . high- ways are happy ways... 40... 50... 60 miles an hour. Step on it and away she flys, steady as a Pullman, not a bit of vibration. Here, take the wheel yourself. Some job, huh?” “V inperForce, I’ve decided now t? take a month's vacation in Ber muda, I need the rest so. I will need ¢ new spring outfit and some summer furs, too. I think it would be nice if I took my mcther with me—as a sort of pres- ent from us. She'll appreciate it so. While I’m gone I wish you'd take care of the Spring cleaning and you had better see to it that the house is com pletely repainted, inside and out, and the roof reshingled. And, dear, why “Sure, I’m gonna do somethin’—if don’t you buy yourself a few new ties— you wait just a minute I’m gonna YU need some, so badly? > roll over on me back! 8 —Epwarp Deseret comicbooks.com