Judge, 1931-06-20 · page 9 of 36
Judge — June 20, 1931 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Satire of Gossip and Hypocrisy This page satirizes the disconnect between what respectable people *claim* to value and what they actually do. The top cartoon shows a boss denying an employee's request for a funeral—suggesting callous indifference to human dignity. The main story, "A Nice Quiet Rocker," depicts two women (Mrs. Eberle and Mrs. Mathius) who proclaim they dislike gossip and don't want to judge others. Yet they immediately proceed to viciously tear apart a young woman named Franklyn—criticizing her bleached hair, her romantic behavior, her family's finances, and her drinking. When Mrs. Mason appears, they instantly shift to false pleasantries. The satire's point: these women are hypocrites who engage in exactly the character assassination they claim to despise. The "nice quiet rocker" they desire masks their active participation in small-town rumor-mongering and social cruelty. It's a critique of how respectability and morality were performative—adopted for public appearance while private behavior told a different story.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Boss, I'd like to have the afternoon off to go to my grandmother's funeral.” A NICE QUIET ROCKER Don’t see what these youngsters come away on a vacation for; run ning around the way they do all day and night instead of taking rest.” observed Mrs. Eberle “That’s what Tsay.” Mathius, edging her chair el 1 good give me a comfy rocker in some quict corner of the porch where I don't “You know, I like Switzerland far better than France have so much better pastry!” they even have to look at another person and ['m happy.” “My sentiments exactly,” erle declared talk to people. where these women get any pleasure Mrs, Eb- [ don't even want to I swear I don't see out of sitting around all day ripping people up the back.” ‘L always somethin say, if you can’t say vd about a person, keep quict,” confided Mrs. Mathius. “You're right. Now take, for in- stane bout that darli Franklyn girl, She's the one who came last week and has been {with that young om boy ever since. “TL know. The one with the bleached hair.” “Is it really bleached 2” “Certainly. [saw it close up and it’s all getting dark around the roots.” “It doesn’t surprise me, but I sup- pose it’s really no concern of mine.” what they're sayin “T quite agree with you, Supposin she is out all hours of the night. It's none of our business.” “T know it, but if T were Mrs. Mason I wouldn't let a son of mine run around with a bg like that. They say she’s after the Mason Then she's going to get beautifully left. My husband told me Mr. Ma- son’s business is on the rocks. But don’t let it get back to Mrs. Mason, I think she’s just sweet.” % Ganvex Extuvstast—Would you mind giving the garden a squirt before you go? “T do, too. keeps her yout “Isn't it killing? I hear she was seen with her son ata road house and she was introducing him as her broth- er. They were drinking, too!” “L kind of suspected she dran “Her son in drunk every night with that Franklyn girl. It runs in the family I suppose. If you ask me——-" “Hush. Here she comes.” “Oh, hello, Mrs. Mason. your fine T admire the way she comes Where's boy this morning?” comicbooks.com