Judge, 1936-10 · page 13 of 36
Judge — October 1936 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Letters We've Never Received" by Parke Cummings This satirical piece mocks the absurdity of polite correspondence by presenting fake letters where recipients make outrageous requests or demands disguised in courteous language. The humor stems from social hypocrisy: people make unreasonable asks while maintaining formal politeness. Examples include someone inviting themselves to use a neighbor's garden indefinitely, a friend casually keeping a borrowed tuxedo, and companies offering dubious "gifts" with ulterior motives (the magazine buyer wants old papers; the milk company's "free milk" policy masks an overdue bill). The cartoon on the right—showing a golfer asking "Where's the green?"—complements this theme: it visualizes the expectation of receiving something promised or deserved, much like the letter-writers expect their absurd requests to be honored. The satire targets both the arbitrariness of social conventions and the greed/obliviousness underlying polite society, suggesting that beneath courteous language lie naked self-interest and entitlement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge Letters We’ve Never Received By Parke Cums Inasmuch as our files show that you have been a con- stant attendant of all our maje vothall games for the us R Mr. Cummings last ten years, we are sending you, wi two tickets for the sur compliments, Yale game. Unfortunately we had no available seats vad cer but we hope that these, on the f D We a considerable quantity of old migazines and newspapers Beit ty-five yard line, will meet with your approval. Very truly yours The Alumni Athletic Association ZAR Sir been informed that you have in your home wd oofia y patent for utilizing them, we are offering a flat rate of tity « and daily: pape Mars for all magazines 1 We would be glad pon collection Yours truly to call, and wi D AR Parke We sure enjoyed tl lot. On returning. | The Magic Process Company t week-end with you. Thanks a Pthat [left my new tuxedo in guest room. [just wanted to tell vou not to bother to doit up ar your send it hack, Keep it and wear it if you find it fits you—which [ think it will—or else give it away or throw it in Duar Sir Thro for milk which you fe dump Regards, Bill han ove’ ta bill was sent you last month we received from us. Kindly dis- regard this bill, as it is our new policy to month’s free milk to customers who us over two years D ve away a ave been with Sincerely, The Jones Milk Co. AR Parke: We are moving out to the country for a couple of weeks, and intend to stay at the Inn. As you probably know, [am crazy about gardening, and 1 wonder if you would mind very much if [came over to your place occasionally and puttered around—weeding, raking leaves. cutting the avn and anything else you could recommend. 1 feel the ne D: AR Mr. Cumn Our records show that your account is considerably overdrawn, and, while it is not our policy to hurry our depositors we would appreciate it if you could straighten up your account within the next few weeks. Kindly let hear from you to that effect so that in the meantime we can isstte cash for checks drawn by you in that period. A telephone call is all that is necessary Very truly yours, The West Hudson County Trust Co. Lot exercise badly, Yours, “Where's the green?” comicbooks.com