Judge, 1887-12-17 · page 10 of 16
Judge — December 17, 1887 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes pretentious poetry readings and affected literary criticism of the era. The scene depicts a literary society meeting where amateur poets present "poems of passion"—sentimental romantic verses popular in late 19th-century parlors. The humor targets: **The poets**: Characters like Bostick and Skaggs present overwrought romantic poems ("We Parted at the Riverside," "Kiss Me, Darling") full of melodrama about doomed love across class lines and moonlit encounters. **The audience**: Members react with exaggerated emotion—applause so violent it shakes furniture below. One character, Skaggs, dismissively snorts "Stuff, rot, twaddle" before being won over, while younger attendees like Annette Pinkerson applaud enthusiastically. **The critic** (likely the "president"): Makes pompous observations about poetry's purpose, marriage, and proper decorum, often missing the point entirely. The satire mocks both the earnest mediocrity of amateur verse and the pretentious solemnity with which literary societies received it—a common subject for Judge's mockery of middle-class cultural aspirations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE 2 to the considerati phase of literature known as the poems of passion,” and the presid smiled pleasantly. ** All of us at some period in our hist that nothing but wa ry applied to the seat of pain would allevi ate our sulf oH itaffect the public. As tke reports smiay bee me of these poems ture as horrible but instructive illustrations of how a he feels that way. Marriage cures the worst case or ess of youth vives way to the gra person feels wi the green se. These poems havea ature and we gladly offer an opportunit their ventilation and criticism. Ha anything in that line, Mr. Harper ? “T have a littie thing in the bli affection line which [ will read,” and Scribner Harper blushed ina painfal manner, Leal it WE PARTED AT THE RIVERSIDE, We parted at the riverside, A crowd stood on the sbore ris westrove to hide, For we should meet Cold were our cheeks and wet with tears, Cold was the kiss As parting Ur kisses at a grave For she had f. Was born of low degree, and titled kin she had * And holding one extended finger under bis nose. One moment stood we hand in hand, One lingering kiss I gave fainting on And when she treads her upward path Amid the titled crowd She oft will dream of ocean's wrath When storms are shrriking loud ; And for the sailor lad will pray Who loved her honestly, And loves her still though far away Upon the raging sea, ‘To mate in her degree Hut while that star gleams in the skies Mt srt will Une with me For hearts will spurn rich title deeds ems may deck a heart that bleeds. * who sails the seas ; A sailor lad may have a beart Sul true whate’er betide, To holt his course, though forced to part the ~The and giv itness: ur essay, Mr, Harper, puts mein Mr. Bostick looks as though he After the applause had subsided the president said kindl business is an improvement ont poem otherwise rather fresh. Y. mind of something Leannot think of. might have something in this line. “Tm: pology.” said Bostick, ‘for a style of verse rather decolette, for it is popular. Leal it THE MOONLIT GLADE. ‘Tho moonlit glade where sparkling streams And dewy waiks invite, With on art to share Beneath F Love's tale t While sh With none to hear and Amid thy and touches hand amid the gloom y see, rts grow warm in passion’s storm, Oh the mooulit glade for Some love the halls of dazzlin eek to climb ambitious b at fashion’s side ; jucen Town ascends no throne, She is a.simple maid, And sways Her Skaygs sniffed in scorn and was heard to ejaculate, “Stuff, rot, twaddle,” while the younger portion whom was Annette Pinkerson, applauded loudly. The president said: The pocm is adapted to certain climate, and seasons. Without rubber boots the dewy walks would be unhealthy and if the poe recites facts | would want to kne f the poet married the girl. Poetic license is safest on paper. Al ! Miss Pinkerson has the floor. Mir little soul-sony or lh sh,” she said. “It depicts the yearnings of womanly nature in the intervals of prosaic daily lite. 1 KISS ME. DARLING mn, darling, nbrace ; Wrap thy arms around me, darling, In thy bosom hide my face. Let the world be all fo Sweet as clusters in their purple, Pink as p Dewy as the blooms of velvet lips caress 1 prowgh me flow. will ne'er forsake me love. Then did a roar of applause go up which shook down a whole sect of furniture in the shop below, and Bostick and Skaggs rushed ay to lead Miss Pin onto herseat. Heavily the vel smote the desk and then did the president arise and say, Tl as been a dual increase in the waruith of these poems from tie start to the last, and we must stop and putsomestars here, for we know not what the next would be, Asa specimen of late poems of passion Miss Pinkerson has produced what we may cull the daisy.” LE * said Bostick ; ic expression of true love “Boy,” suid § your seat. [ will escort Miss Pinkerson, nin that poem. said Bostick; ‘you baldheaded e, what do you know about poetry anyhow? Miss Pinkerson, take my arm, Did you think there was any allusion to you in that poem :” said ut spindle chanked dude !” said Bostick in a frenzied tone. “1 upto Bostick and holding one You will hear from me, and if ages. “please go and take Ah! Liar Skaggs wal his nose said, give me satisfi Let me | my friend, hi blood blood "said Bostick deep down in - his throat. Oh, there will bea duel! Stop it, stop iti” and Annette Pin rson fainted in the arms of Scribner Har- per, who held her so as to not winter ha The gavel pounded — the desk to splin- ters, but none heeded it. T mem bers of the ‘elub pressed close up around the angry men, Montgomer Gibbs extended finger under ‘ou are aman you will vou note, right away. Here, Harper will be muss hi Stood in one corner with folded arms” comicbooks.com