Judge, 1931-12-19 · page 12 of 36
Judge — December 19, 1931 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers **"Engineers Wanted"** is Stanley Fitzgerald's satirical essay criticizing automobile manufacturers. He argues they obsess over technical innovations (free-wheeling, manifolds) that engineers find impressive but ordinary drivers don't need. Instead, he humorously lists practical problems: feet burning in summer, freezing in winter, spare tires requiring "Houdini" to remove, and storage batteries hidden where mechanics can't service them. The point: car makers design for engineering prestige, not user comfort. **"Missionary"** cartoon depicts a missionary being violently attacked by what's labeled "a childlike people"—appearing to mock Western missionary work and paternalistic attitudes toward non-Western cultures. The irony suggests such missions often ended badly. **"Recapitulation"** by Arthur Lippmann is a humorous poem about pruning one's mailing list of relatives and acquaintances who never reciprocated hospitality or gifts—crossing off those who won't be "missed."
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ENGINEERS WANTED A' romonmiLe manufacturers are all the time getting ex- = cited over some new so-called improvement in automo- bile designing like free-wheeling or the hot-spot manifold and spend big money for advertising space to tell us about these great thi they have done for us. These technical improvements may be interesting to peo- ple who have « mechanical turn of mind or an er degree, no ide the incering ut the men who make automobiles seem to have of the kind of improvements in automobiles that t Americ: iblic really wants. For instance, I've noticed for years that when I drive my automobile in summer my fect get so hot that they alinost set my shoes on fire. On the other hand, when T drive in the wintertime my feet get so cold they feel like lumps of ice. Another thing, why doesn’t some motor-car manufacturer come out with a car equipped with a spare tire that can be removed without the assistance of Houdini? Another beneficial thing would be to cross an automobile tool-kit with a homing pigeon so that the tools would not so easily stray from their nest under the seat. Any man who has looked in vain for his lugwrench knows how loudly this state of affairs cries for reform. Yes, and why is the storage battery always cunnin, hidden away where to it have it requires an cxpert mechanic to get ive it the regular drink of distilled water it must ny law against putting a storage battery ot at in less than an hour? What this country needs is an automobile that’s de- signed to please the driver and not some hi graduate of an ¢ neering school. And the m a car is put on the market I'll promptly buy one. less of 5 -provided I can get the proper trade- lowance on the 1925 Maxwell I'm driving now. —Srancey Firzcerarp dg Is there where it can be h-browed ute such egard- in al- JUDGE Misstonany—A childlike people—huh! “These Socialists yell about money do they know about money?” Recapitulation M* cousin Carl and uncle Gus— We've crossed them off our mailing list. (They might have spent a dime on us!) We've crossed them off our mailing list. The what's-their-names in Portland. Maine, The you-know-whos up in Spokane. Those folks we dined with on the train Are off our list—they won't be missed! A lot of kin [I never saw— We've crossed them off our mailing list. A raft of relatives-in-law— We've crossed them off our mailing list. All folks on whom a dime was spent, To whom a card was kindly sent But answered not the compliment Are off our list—they won't be missed! —Artiuver Lippmann The ue of Nations is kept pretty these days concluding peace entreaties with Japan. busy comicbooks.com