Judge, 1887-12-31 · page 4 of 18
Judge — December 31, 1887 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains humorous social commentary typical of 1880s *Judge* magazine. The top cartoon depicts a woman on horseback—the caption suggests she's an inexperienced rider, with the groom commenting she won't sit still. The title suggests the horseback riding lesson is failing. The middle section ("He Wasn't Engaged") shows an artist seeking a model to pose as "Gracchus" (likely the Roman historical figure), but finding the applicant physically unsuitable—satirizing the gap between artistic ideals and reality. "Hum of the Court" offers brief satirical observations on contemporary life: the importance of dating letters correctly (1886, not 1889), the irony of prescribing hard work as a cure for hypochondria, and casting jokes about theatrical performances and New Year's resolutions. References include "Hanlan" (likely Canadian rower Edward Hanlan, famous at this time) and "Bill Nye" (the humorist). The humor targets pretension, physical mishaps, and everyday absurdities of 1880s American society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE NOT AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS Groom tail different of put the sate a bit aft. He's after ticklin’ me so in the ribs wid it Lean't sit shtill 1” killer, a little humorist, and an unrivalled slugger; and as for the Canadian Hanlan, pooh ! One Mrs. Coflin of Ohio regained her speech by faith last week, but Mr. Cottin is not so well. Many a man is beggared by his wife's New-year’s presents to him, but it is the nicest of all povert When a man—that man who wrote poems for the new ye he is a born poet, that accounts, we suppose, for the apparent ab: of his bringing up. Bull Nye says he is a born scientist; and during this hol how would it be for him c public as to the al his hair? Not to criminate , perhaps, but as a guarantee of loli day good faith. We obser sented by artists as acherub totally without clothes; and considering that the new year comes to us it nuary that is cruelty both to his modesty and his cuticle, and suggests quite as much of pneumonia as new year. HE WASN'T ENGAGED. ArpLicast—"I see you've been advertisin’ for a model to pose as Gracchus bein’ brokea don't seem to have the necessary physique. HUM OF THE COURT. At this season it will be well to ring the wild belles, and the tame ones too, Don't mistake your dates. Be careful to write 1886 instead of the familiar 1889, 's resolution gives its author great consolation even if minutes. ¢ A paper says the best remedy for hypochondria is hard work. We think so, too, provided the other man doesn’t charge too much for doing it. but the elderly stage lady who is taken for a juvenile py young one Whose representation of an old woman is equally deceiv We commence the year with the happy consciousness that Ai 2 i 4 LICANT ~" Physique * Why, my dei man! I've been the loose jointed wor has taken England through the mL efforts of a great buifulo- part eeer- Midcinp scl my, my Geet mas I've boon tbe leone) with comicbooks.com