Judge, 1932-09 · page 12 of 36
Judge — September 1932 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "You're So Inconsistent!" — A Satire on Reading Habits This two-part cartoon by M. R. Deitrick satirizes marital discord over reading and cultural pretense. **The dialogue (top):** A husband brings home a fashionable novel called *Dark Darkness* by "Moana Wale," claiming his wife should read it to stay culturally informed. She initially agrees enthusiastically but then admits she finds it boring and incomprehensible—yet demands he summarize the convoluted plot anyway, interrupting his attempts to actually read it. **The bottom cartoon** depicts a busy office of silent typists at desks, captioned "They're all wax figures, but it sure gives a busy appearance!"—suggesting mere performative activity without substance. **The satire's point:** Both cartoons mock social and domestic pretense—the wife wanting to *appear* cultured without engaging seriously with literature, and the office appearing productive while accomplishing nothing. The title "You're So Inconsistent!" underscores the hypocrisy of demanding cultural sophistication while displaying none.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge “You’re So Inconsistent!” By M. R. Deitrick *¢Toun, what's this book on the table here? Did you bring it home with you tonight?” “Yeah. I forgot to give it to you. It’s that new one everybody's talking about. Dark Darkness, by Moana W ‘i “Oh, good! Is it for me?” “Uh-huh. I thought you might like to read it. You ought to show more t interest in what's being talked about. "Sa good idea to keep up on things.” “Oh, you're so thoughtful, John. j I'll start right away, Dark Dark } ... Is it light reading, John? The \ title is so sort of obscure. Have you out on the train. ’S pretty good. “Oh, I know I'll be ¢ about it I'll sit right down this minute and read it straight through.” mp... . Don't read it, then “I can’t get interested in it at « “Well, put it up.” “Oh, I know 1 wouldn't’ be in- terested in it. It’s all about generj tions and things. I hate generations.” “Well, put it away.” “Hm. ... 1 don't see what you ever feund interesting in it... Which one does the girl marry. finally? The one her father wanted her to marry because he was mean tc her, ar the one she knew was th« man she loved the minute she saw out of the horses’ she picks on the in love with.” xood. He was much the t.... Which are their chil- dren, then? Is it this George that fights on the Northern side and falls in love with the ari i girl that’s thei son of that other girl that was the other girl’s chum and that other man the other girl ma it the samc time the other gi nd the other man got married? ... John! Why don’t you answer me when I ask you 2 simple question?” —he’s their son.” “Well, why didn’t you say Bes Then what does he dé? Does he “Say, darn it, I'm trying to read—" Vell, am I, but I’m willing to talk too. John! What does George do? Does he marry the Southern sirl “They're all wax figures, but it sure gives a busy appearance!” or does he go back up North and 10 comicbooks.com