Judge, 1931-08-08 · page 10 of 36
Judge — August 8, 1931 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Content Analysis This page contains two satirical pieces mocking wives' financial decisions and prohibition-era social hypocrisy. **"Helpful Wives"** depicts a wife who invested their savings in a dubious scheme: an "aeroplanes go sideways" device from a man introduced by her aunt. She excitedly announces they've bought stock expecting massive profits, oblivious to having made a foolish investment. John's angry response suggests the scheme is obviously fraudulent. The satire targets wives who make reckless financial decisions while believing themselves helpful. **"Situation"** section offers brief commentary on contemporary issues: prohibition's failure (drys claim success; wets disagree), a substance that "couldn't be mixed with gin" (likely mocking gin's ubiquity during Prohibition), cigarette advertising's sexual appeals ("kissable" vs. walking home), and instrumental music (the saxophone emerging as popular but unskilled players annoyed neighbors). The cartoons reflect 1920s anxieties about wives' newfound financial independence, Prohibition enforcement, and changing social customs.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE ‘HELPFUL’ WIVES “V Jercome home, John darling. I know it’s been a hot and tire- some trip but you won't have to sell art calendars very 1 nore months. Yep, it’s a surprise. We're going to be ri John dear. Well, since you can't wait, I'll have to tell you before dinner, Aunt Marcella sent over the nicest man—a Mister Johnson, And this Mr. Johnson has a patented de- vice that will make acroplanes go side- ways. You attach it to any plane and it will go sideways. Mr. Johnson said that because of Aunt Marcella he was going to let us get in on the ground floor of his comp He had to have our order right away so I closed out The Naturalist Who Went Out to Get Some Specimens. Situation Tite drys still insist that pro- hibition is a success. And the wets still disagree with them—when they happen to be sober. And a fellow at a party was telling us the other day that he had made a remarkable dis- covery. He says he discovered something that couldn't be mixed with gin. Dora says she doesn’t know whether to smoke Old Golds and keep kissable or smoke Camels and walk a mile home from an automobile ride. In the past 300 years, says an authority, no one has been able to improve on the violin. And in the past six months the fellow upstairs hasn't been able to improve on the saxophone. our savings account and bought fifty shares of participating stock at fifty dollars a share. Mr. Johnson s: it’ easily be worth five hundred dol- lars a share before the year is out. ‘That will give us a profit of twenty- two thousand five hundred dollars! Why, John! You never spoke so harshly to me before! Is that so? Well, this is positively the last time I'll ever try to make any money for you, Your supper is on the table. Go cat it yourself.” “Ww: ‘I, so you're John’s Aunt Nellie? Really, you don't look a bit like I pictured you from John's description. But those men only got eyes for a doll-baby, haven't r told me a word about 1 texactly a Z but she’s got character in her And really, I want to tell you, wasn't a bit ry when you thr ened to disinherit John if he married me. I said to him ‘I’m convinced Aunt Nellie isn't as self-centered and unsympathetic as you've led me to be lieve.” Think of it! Worrying about your money when we both wish you long life full of happiness. So just make yourself right at home While I fix supper. John doesn't know you're coming. I didn't tell him a word. He would have said—I mean I want to give him a real surprise when he gets home from the office and finds his favorite aunt here!” is netmal mee ner ees comicbooks.com