Judge, 1932-01-23 · page 13 of 36
Judge — January 23, 1932 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Satire Analysis This page satirizes the Japanese ritual of hara-kiri (ritual suicide) by absurdly applying it to American complaints about trivial grievances. The top cartoon shows a prisoner attempting suicide over criticism of "our state." The accompanying text presents mock news reports of various Americans committing hara-kiri in response to minor indignities: Republican congressmen over Democratic insults, a Chicago gangster (referencing Al Capone's imprisonment) over federal authorities, a man protesting President Hoover's commissions, a Broadway actor scorning gossip columnist Walter Winchell, and a Florida real estate agent angered by farming criticism. The satire mocks American overreaction to insults and perceived slights—suggesting Americans treat trivial offenses with the deadly seriousness Japanese culture historically attached to honor. The bottom cartoon's caption "Cold feet, warm heart" reinforces the joke: Americans lack the actual conviction for such extreme measures. This reflects 1930s era stereotyping of Japanese culture as obsessively honor-bound, contrasted with American frivolousness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IDGE claimed, just before flinging himself in front of a truck. “They criticized our state—oh, boy, am I sore Wasinxetox.—Forty - six Repub- lican representatives committed hara- kiri today on the House floor beeause they resented remarks n . Demo- cratic congressmen. “This is how we reply to slander on the G. O. P.!" they chorused, as they bared their chests to their desk fountain pens, Citcaco, — Salvatore (“Three- Finger") Stedmanetti, local gangster, today committed suicide by bashing in his skull with a crowbar. The ae- tion was the result of resentment at Al Capone's imprisonment by Federal authorities. “They got the only man who can run this city in the jug.” Stedmanetti complained, “What kind of a country is this. show ‘em how J feel “He ain't in... Y'wanna leave yer name?” Indignant Japanese Dies by Hara-Kiri Tokyo (U.P.) —Hara-kiri, the Wastuxerox.— Mortimer A, Kreutz today committed hara-kiri as an ex- pression of indignation Hoover. “Hoover ay damn many — commissions,” jared = Mr. Kreutz indignantly, as he tried the edge of his bread knife. “JI show him what I think of him!" | Mr. Kreutz left a will donating fifty dol- lars towards the erection of “Navy League officials’ statues throughout the country. New York.—P. Klauber Zach, a prominent actor on Broadway, today committed hara-kiti to show his dis- dain for Walter Winchell, “Winchell third-rate ham and get * snapped Zach, “Let a lesson to all gossip-mo Mr. Zach showed finesse in th wielding of an old) Shakespearean stage-sword. Jacksonvitte.—Highly indignant hecause a recent: om zine article hinted that dive 1 farming could not be profitably practised in Florida Richard Wilson committed sui- cide in front of his real estate office “The nerve of 'em,” he ex- “Cold feet, warm heart. You know, Mr. Smith!!” 11 Z DLP CALs 00 0