Judge, 1932-07 · page 7 of 36
Judge — July 1932 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains three separate pieces of workplace humor from early 20th-century America: **"They Laughed When I Sat Down"** (by R.C. O'Brien) mocks job applicants' surprise when a young woman becomes a manager. The narrator, now chief of employment, receives interview applicants and reveals she'd previously worked her way up—satirizing both sexism in hiring and the gap between candidates' expectations and reality. **"Two Overheads Get Together"** presents competing executives comparing their organizational difficulties (operations removed, staff cuts, health problems), with each claiming worse circumstances—a satire on corporate one-upmanship and workplace complaints. **The bottom cartoon** shows a portly gentleman rushing toward the ocean, captioned as a "weekend guest" hurrying for a morning swim—likely satirizing overeager visitors or the discomforts of seaside hospitality. The humor derives from his ungainly appearance and apparent desperation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“I'm terribly nervous Two Overheads Get Together irst Overh Did you hear about my operation? I... Second Overhead: Your oper tion! Let me tell you about my operation! I had a whole depart- ment taken out at one time, and . . . “That’s nothing. I had two vice- presidents and a sales-manayer re- moved at one time, and that was only a month after I had lost eight of my clerks and half a dozen stenographers.” “You don’t say! Well, I have been on the table three times during the last year. The doctors made pretty deep incisions every time, too, They say that I may have to have another operation soon; there is a swollen condition in one department that ought to be reduced.” “Isn't it sickening? Now, when I had three of my salesmen taken out, I thought I’d never get over it, but T feel fine now. It is a dreadful nuisance, but I guess it is all for the best.” “T suppose so. Did I ever tell you about the time they cut off my branch office? . . .” —HENRY ALFREDS. They Laughed When I Sat Down HEY laughed when I went into the office, sat down at a desk and told them I wanted a job. They became hysterical when I made out an application blank. We're laying: them off,” the boss finally managed to gulp. “Okay,” I replied, “then give me a job helping to lay them off.” Little did they realize that I had taken lessons in work and knew how to wor! The musement turned to a ment when the telephone I answered it. e not hiring: anybod Already I was pr. ber of the firm. A line soon formed at my desk. It consisted of applicants for posi- tions. One by one I intervi them, asking about their expe and qualifications. Then I “There is nothing just now, but we'll keep you in mind and let you know.” I had made myself useful. I had taken a load off the firm’s shoulders. I was chief of the employment per- sonnel department. They laughed when I sat down and asked for a job. But, at the end of the week, when I asked for my pay check, they laughed even harder. —R. C. O'BRIEN. cally a mem- ewed fie Weekend Guest, at Six in the Morning, Rushing Gaily Down for a Dip in the Icy Bay.