Judge, 1888 · page 29 of 72
Judge — 1888 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects brief humorous anecdotes and jokes typical of late-19th-century American humor. The content includes: **Short jokes** on various topics: kissing, labor politics (mocking the labor party's competence), class humor (a stingy uncle), amateur theater (implying amateurs are bad), and medical incompetence. **Ethnic stereotypes**: The "Race Insult" features Irish and Chinese immigrant caricatures using exaggerated dialect, with a priest reference. This reflects the period's casual ethnic mockery. **Period-specific humor**: References to druggists selling cigars, cobwebs in pantries (as dust collectors), Barnum's white elephant exhibit, and the term "buoys/boys" (ship pun). **Social satire**: Jokes target pretentious dudes, religious hypocrisy (Lent fasting), and alcoholism. The central illustration shows a prank with "Pharaoh's serpents" (a fireworks product) loaded into a grandfather's pipe—slapstick humor common to the era. The overall tone is lighthearted, conservative, and reflects upper-class attitudes toward immigrants, working people, and various social groups.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
KISSING. ‘The more that kissing goe: It more of sentiment wil Not for the cooi A CLINCHING ARGUMENT. “What makes you think the labor party could never govern the country?” asked an agitator. “Because,” replied old Brown in a convincing way, “it can't govern itself. SO CONSIDERATE. Uncle James, who is a trifle near, had given his niece a silver ch for her New Year's present. I'd have made it a gold one, my dear, but then how much greater the loss if you had been so unfortunate as to have it stolen.” VERY FORTUNATE. “Yes,” said a young Philadel- phian; “we have a fine little theatre in our city solely for the use of amateurs.” “That's fortunate for the pub- lic,” observed his friend. A THOUGHTFUL PATIENT. Jones was feeling a little un- well. “Run quick,” he said to his servant, “and bring two doctors.” “Two doctors?” “Yes, one to correct the mis- takes of the other.” vy, as in days of yore ‘Tis only Love -the more Love gives, The more it hath in store. JOHNNY LOADS GRANDPA'S PIPE WITH PHARAOH'S SER- PENTS AND THE OLD GENTLEMAN SWEARS OFF SMOKING. NATURAL GAS FROM JUDGE. A MAN OF NERVE. “Who is that distinguished looking man ahead of us?” * That's General Swordangun. A very brave soldier who never knew fear.” Bagley—1 can believe you; I just saw him get a two-cent stamp from a druggist without buying a cigar.” A RACE INSULT. Donvhue—*Git out av here, ye dombed brass-jawed _pig-tail ! We don't sell any whishky to Chinese haythen: Moriarty—* And are yez afther forgettin’ thot Oi’m one av the late prastes av Barnum’s whoite elephant? Shame on ye, Donohue! Have I changed so?” NEW TO HOUSEWIVES. No, James,” said a young fe, ‘1 don't like that house we looked at. Why, there isn’t a cobweb in the whole pantry.” “What do you want a cobweb in the pantry for?" asked her husband. “Why, to hang the spiders on, to be sure.” THE WRONG WAY. “1 say, Bill,” said one London street urchin to another on see- ing a dude pass by, “that feller looks as if ‘is "ead had been fitted to ‘is s ‘at to ‘is ‘ead.” MAKING RELIGION PAY. “Is this all you have for break- fast, ma’am?” inquired the new boarder. “y that's all,” replied the landlady. “You must remem- ber this is Lent, and I always try to keep my house moral and respectable.” A GREAT QUESTION ANSWERED. “ Pa,” said Bertie the other day, “why do they calla ship ‘she’?” “Because, my son, she is al- ways on the lookout for some of the’ buoys.” A HOPELESS CASE. Not bad for a_ professional drunkard: “Why will you make such a beast of yourself?” “To drown my cares.” “And you succeed?” “No; unfortunately they know how to swim.” “Tut! tut! ttut! Wewhat's” — “Tve knowed licker to do it, but I didn’t ‘spect that tweed was strong enough! * comicbooks.com