Judge, 1934-07 · page 7 of 36
Judge — July 1934 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This Judge magazine page satirizes aspiring writers through humor rather than politics. The main content, "Tips on Being an Author" by David Murray, mocks people who want to write by presenting common excuses and naive assumptions about the profession. The cartoons illustrate these attitudes: one shows a man lounging while apparently expecting success; another depicts someone calling "rich relatives" for money during financial hardship—suggesting writers can't actually support themselves. The broader satire targets the romantic delusion of becoming a writer without real work or sacrifice. Murray's dialogue captures the era's prevalent attitude that writing seemed easier than actual employment, yet the reality was harsh poverty. "Off the Goldsmith Standard" (top right) appears unrelated—a separate poem about betrayal by men.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Butch is always finding things.” TIPS ON BEING AN AUTHOR By David Murray “\7OU want to be a writer, eh? Well, it’s a tough racket. Now if Iwas going to be a writer, I'd go around and meet all the editors before I jotted down a word.” “Why don't you quit your job? Then you'll have to make a living out of writ ing or starve to death.” “My wife’s cousin is writing a book. Why don’t you get serious and try writing a book, too?” “I hear these guys who write for the movies have a soft life. What you ought to do is go to Hollywood.” “There’s only one way to be a writer. You've got to go out and get a job on @ newspaper.” “The thing to do is write a play and get it produced on Broadway. That’s where the real money is.” “You sometimes I think I should have taken up writing myself.” know, “Well, maybe this will give you an idea for a story. The other day at the tice” “My brother’s wife writes stuff for the radio, Of course she doesn’t get any money out of it but there must be a great kick in having millions of people hear the stuff you’ve written.” “Humor is the thing. That’s where the real money is. Why don’t you write humor ?” “Well, if I were you, I'd just write a complete story every day. The law of averages is bound to sell one for you sooner or later.” Off the Goldsmith Standard HEN lovely woman stoops to folly And finds, too late, that men betray, She seldom yields to melancholy In this so unregenerate day. No tear she sheds, to wring their bosom: No shame she feels at doing ill. She simply goes right out and sues ‘em, And then appears in vaudeville. “T tell ya I am the lady of the house. This is Boys’ week!" “Let's call up your rich relatives. That'll cool us off in a hurry!” 5 comicbooks.com