Judge, 1889-05-18 · page 3 of 16
Judge — May 18, 1889 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page from Judge contains three satirical pieces: **"A Bad Break"**: A social comedy about a man complimenting a woman at a party, only to learn she's the host's daughter—an embarrassing faux pas about proper introductions. **"That Optimistic Pessimist"**: Commentary on Bishop Potter's views about American progress. The piece argues that despite corruption, the nation's proportional morality has improved with population growth, and that military readiness through school discipline (referencing the recent centennial celebrations) surpasses standing armies. This reflects 1880s-90s debates about military preparedness. **"Our Standing Army"** and **"As the Game Opened"**: The final cartoon shows poor men playing cards with makeshift chips, depicting working-class leisure. References to Pulitzer, Dana, and Cleveland suggest newspaper rivalry and political maneuvering around New York governor Hill. The overall tone reflects Judge's typical upper-class perspective on social propriety, politics, and labor, with gentle mockery of contemporary figures and debates.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A BAD BREAK. Excuse me, sir; can you tell me who that stunning girl is? I'm a comparative stranger hare, but she’s the kind of girl I'd like to speak to Excuse me, but you are, sir. What else can I tell you about my daughter ?”” THAT OPTIMISTIC PESSIMIST. THIS COUNTRY is getting along well enough, and however Tittle Bishop Potter may know of politics he knows enough to know that. They didn’t have as good politics in Washington's time as presi- dent as we have. There is more corruption now; but there are more people, and the percentage of evil is smaller according to the popula- tion, Are there too many rich men and too many poor men? Well, has there ever been a time when that was not the case? Can there ever be such atime? Bishop Potter aay want the commune to settle things, but that is an experiment that has always been dangerous. What is urgently advisable is heaven on earth, But, good gracious! we can't have that as long as we live. OUR STANDING ARMY. THE ARMY of the United States numbers millions. It is composed, not of veterans, but of boys and young men, The march of the school-children through our str ond day of the centennial, suggested more of defense, if not of offense in critical cases, than might come from any standing army in the world. ‘These boys are the army of ts, on the the future. They are the West-Pointers of the nation vastly multiplied ; for it is to be assumed that if every school does not teach the drill and the discipline of the soldier, every school soon will. And this West Point, a part of the grandest school system in the world, does not cost a dollar of extra taxation, With this drill and discipline we can put an army of half a million in the field in sixty days, and they will be soldiers from the time they assume the gun and knapsack. They will have aw well the will a the knowledge of fight. There, Mr. Bismarck, is something of an im- provement on the German military system. MB. PULITZER and Mr. Dana are evidently not acquainted in Al- bany; and when Mr, Pulitzer intimates that Mr. Cleveland “has retired to public life” he may voice the reluctant opinion of Mr. Dana. Not that cither loves Cleveland more, but that both may think they have been left in the cold by Mr. Hill. issed the duchess of Marlborough, and that is the more impressive because she did it during the enforced absence of the HE QUEEN has duke. On the whole, however, we should prefer it that way ourselves. AS THE GAME OPENED. Mr. GLapcrone—"' D’ ole lady's been a-sewin’ on butt'ns fer me, en as dey’s some left ober we'll use ‘m fer chips,” Mx. Bxicuy—" Hole on, gonnlemen ! I'll kim in. comicbooks.com