Judge, 1888-02-11 · page 3 of 16
Judge — February 11, 1888 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains multiple satirical cartoons and humorous dialogue typical of late 19th-century Judge magazine. **"Mutually Sold"** (top): A social commentary on business deception—two parties (Mrs. Hardscrape and "Tons") each claim ignorance of the other's identity while conducting what appears to be a dishonest transaction, satirizing how people knowingly participate in fraud while maintaining plausible deniability. **"Competition Not Always the Life of Trade"** (center): A philosophical Aesop's fable about a depressed mule. When questioned why he's lost his vigor, the mule explains he's been "robbed" of his inherited stupidity and lack of ambition—a darkly ironic critique suggesting that competition and striving actually diminish happiness compared to accepting one's station. **"A Comforting Argument"** (bottom left): An insurance agent cynically justifies high premiums by calculating death benefits, reducing human life to profitable actuarial tables. **Scattered jokes** (right side): Brief, unrelated humor about lawyers, parental authority, and domestic matters—typical filler content for the period. The overall tone is cynical about business ethics and human nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MUTUALLY SOLD. nmaaking—» Why, Tons! Vd no id xn (at the Ro Pin snr Pdidn't know it was yeu, Letitia COMPETITION NOT ALWAYS THE LIFE OF TRADE. \ Mule, Wand with Disconsolate Air in a Barren Field, ve fused even toswitch his Tail at the Flies. His y Walk was Automatic, Perfunctory and Purposeless. Th ne to Him casually ae Magwamp, w My Dear Fellow, itseemeth from a Gres forth i well. that thou art ied with thy iy M 5 ho longer Twinkle at Unexpected M as owas t Why dost thou not Be- stir Thyself and Pre: serve thy Reputation as an Erratic Animal 2” Yeauvaewewew- E> Ioaw-Kelia west we EF hughed the Mule, with Hat Satine nixed n Equally nthe Mule Re. plied Harkee. sirable Thou Shouldst F tore Miunliaess than to Gloat Over Me in Mine aMiction Know You not then, the Reason of my Tnvetivity By my Missing wels, Edo Not!” aseverated the Muy. wnmp Yoreaeiva-wwew ‘A COMFORTING ARGUMENT. Iyncrasce aorst—“ I tell you, si, I's the best thing in the world, same, two feet $2,000, and so on, and if you ; Axsoven acsixras way" Tdon't get it if Um i Ixstmaxce aoest "To be sure, but your wife en Mt Lid enjoy that last waltz so °° for making if so pleasant for you, won't you P Mule, once he had regained composus « that is to sa ve Robbed Me of mine inhe nd Unambitious, O Mugwuamp, because thou aten my. Record as a Kiel vel follows, to «Stupidity as aun Morose, Brok FACT. First young laryes to xecond—"Ru Can T borrow him 2 Second Law yer— “Sorry, but have al- loaned him to Smith.” TOO PRUDENT. A middle-aged Jady to the object of her adoration : “Now be sure and troy my letters.” “Certainly, my di no one could be more prudent them before them.” A LEADING QUESTION. Tommy — 2 why ean't I wear Jong pants like papa? other boys have then.” Teven burn Tread Mamma — USE, ming, short pants intended for little boys like vou te w se-ball players ain little boys.” “Case dar was a fly in de dough don't spile de fo! a hungry If you lose your hand you get $1,000, a foot the: bread man comicbooks.com