Judge, 1933-03 · page 12 of 40
Judge — March 1933 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Mistress Pepys' Journal" by Baird Leonard This is a humorous society column mimicking Samuel Pepys' famous 17th-century diary, but covering 1930s upper-middle-class domestic life. The narrator (a woman) records trivial social events—luncheons, fashion, gossip—alongside casual references to contemporary culture (radio, Al Jolson, the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay). The three cartoons illustrate jokes from the text: one shows a malfunctioning heating system; another depicts people asking to "spare a dyne" (a physics pun, likely referencing Depression-era economics); the third shows visiting country relatives at a theater. The satire targets both the pretentiousness of society women discussing serious topics (Democrats being "vulnerable") while obsessed with clothes and gossip, and the affectations of imitating Pepys' archaic language for trivial modern matters. The "basic seriousness behind such frippery" is the joke itself—these concerns are fundamentally frivolous.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge Mastress Pepys’ Journal F BRUARY 10.—My thouy pretty scattered for this issue of my day-book, having lain ill for over a week of malady from which my family feared I should die and 1 feared I should not. This morning my Katie in to me with news that she had dreamed a correct number in the lottery on clearance house num and had given it to her hus- band, who had not played it, so I did ask her if she had clouted him over the pate with a rolling-pin, but she had not, having devised a yreater punishment in hiding his favorite shoes. Three of my cronies in me, and Jane Whiggam had smart fur trimmed coat and a frock so much in the mode that we did gz at her, knowing that she had made every stitch of them herself, so when we marked how wonderful it must be to be clever, Jane did say that we were quite wrong, that she was sick of it, and was going to buy her- self some pink negligees and go in for a good nervous breakdown. Much talk of th nd that, Lydia Loomis reminding us that the Democrats were vulnerable, and Meg Hampton adding that they were not only vul- nerable but doubled. Lord! the basic seriousness behind such frippery is bers, By Baird Leonard Greek to me, albeit I can comprehend the philosophy of the ancient who. thoughtfully regarding the cheroot before him, quoth, “What this five- cent cigar needs is a. good country.” Kept my friends for luncheon, giv- ng them turkey a@ la King in a rice ring, fresh asparagus, and pineapple ice, and there was much merriment when the appetizers were served Jane shouting, “When the second eets the first. cocktayle and says ‘Here comes the parade!’ ” And Lydia did relate how she re- ceived a messaye from one of her brother's friends the other evening stating that he was taking her brother to his rooms because he wis ill, nor would he have none of Lydia's coming down for him, neither, there being a doctor in attendance, etc. and when Lydia asked the chirur- yeon’s pronouncement, the reply was Syncopation,” which did turn out to be, upon further pressure A slow movement from bar to bar.” All of which nonsense I was obliged to en- joy vicariously, being confined to bed with a glass of milk and a biscuit cocktayle “There's Warmsleigh—all oiled up again.” “Buddy can you spare a dyne?” GEBRUARY 11. I have been listen- ing to the radio more than usual this month and have been impre: in especial with the large numbe letters which Mr. Jolson” receives from small urchins, all desirous that he should sing this or that sony. 1 am also convinced that poets should be read, not heard, since Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of my idols, made an exhibition of herself the other evening by reading from her own works, I was obliged to quit the room. Still enforcedly abed, I did reflect how well I could do with sev- ladies-in-waiting, for, albeit several women of my acquaintance are at some pains to endure their one personal maid, I should be ylad of six or seven, nor ever find one of them under foot. Sam says it is be cause Tam the laziest woman that ever he saw in his life, but I pay him no heed, Sam being given on oc sion to sweeping statements whicl have been known in the past to cost him money. Moreover, it behooves him to say little on any subject as long as he continues to wear th Homburg hat which he commissioned a friend to bring him from Germany. Marge Boothby in, and we once that there is nothing more bo: ing than for country cousins, visit ing in town, to ask you not to take them to “Dinner at Eight", “Design for Living”, ete., they having seen all the things you want to see on their try-outs in the provinces, ter ur th the ra tur hay an wo pos Pu me 506 tha on thi comicbooks.com