Judge, 1929-04-20 · page 19 of 36
Judge — April 20, 1929 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, which had recently captivated public imagination. The humor works by treating relativity as a universal explanation for everyday annoyances. **Main cartoons:** 1. **Top cartoon**: A lost couple with a map—the joke is that Einstein's theory explains why they keep returning to the same place (relativity of motion/space). 2. **"Relativity" poem**: The author humorously claims to understand Einstein because he also has a "relative" problem—his wife's forty-two visiting relatives treating his home as their nightly gathering spot. He suggests Einstein should apply his genius to solving this domestic plague instead. 3. **Eight-sided egg-crate diagram**: Mocks how people were struggling to understand relativity by creating absurdly complicated dimensional explanations that spiral into meaninglessness. 4. **"Add to Einstein's Theories"**: Lists mundane modern frustrations (subway crowds, finding parking, in-laws) as if they too require Einstein-level scientific explanation. The satire reflects 1920s public bewilderment over a complex new theory that became cultural shorthand for explaining anything confusing or baffling.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Relativity I know how Doctor Einstein felt And why one morning he Presented to a startled | “Welt” | His Relativity. | My wife has fond relations Who number forty-two, And think my habitation’s | "Their nightiy rendezvous. I'm sure that if the scientist My pressing problem Through nights of toil he'd | not desist Until he found a law, A law of potent powers My worried life to free From pestilential hours OF Relativi Awe Lo Livesass w Add to Einstein’s Theories “Funny, this map keeps bringing me back to the same place!” “Why, that’s a diagram explaining the Einstein Theory!” Each of the other six sides of this eight-sided egg-erate is a dimension, — Four md six are eleven, and there y« perfectly Me dimensions. Furthermore, if you take the length, breadth and thickness of each of the eight: sides of the ecight-sided egg-crate vou will are, Eleven od use have three times eight which equals twenty-four, Twenty-four dimensions already and [could xo on forever. But I won't. —Natr Corie Some Problems for Prof. Einstein What trousers? became of alloon Why do people run up esea lators? What is the idea of spinach? Why do the other people in a revolving door make you do the pushing? , Why do asparagus tips double up just as you are a to put them in your mouth How to get into a rumble seat without spraining an ankle. put —Lawson Paynter TIME—The Instalment) Plan Strange Interlude Waiting for the Girl Friend SPAC The subway at 5. P.M. Any art gallery What I'm trying to fill MOTION—Finding a parking 1 Second the motion | TIVITY Phe last with abject apologies. Davin S. Leastas Fusel Oil Jack (as engine goes dead) If we're out of gas, Bill, TH empty my flask inte the tank Maybe that'll get us to town, Bill—Say, what do you want to do. wreck this car? Rictiany B. Esery, R Mothers-in-law 4ELD won Wee OF = Rave oF | whe Eqs a it over to the accompaniment of a The Prof. who whispered cheatra, manages to hold his audience. | | muted or il comicbooks.com