Judge, 1890-12-06 · page 26 of 52
Judge — December 6, 1890 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine satirizes American life through multiple vignettes. The title piece, "The Usual Effect of Civil War," depicts two street urchins (Gordon Ellsmere and Wallingford Pettibone, likely caricatured as Irish immigrants based on dialect) quarreling over a found dime. Their argument escalates until a police officer confiscates it—the joke being that internal conflict benefits only those in authority. This appears to reference post-Civil War tensions and class divisions. Other segments mock social pretension: a wealthy patron promising an artist lavish payment (unrealistic generosity), romantic mishaps around mistletoe, and a waiter's sardonic "prediction" that a customer will be disappointed—satirizing naïveté and false hopes. The overall theme critiques American society's tendency toward conflict, dishonesty, and the exploitation of the working poor and powerless by those with authority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS JUDGE A DAY DREAM. )—"" Aren't you nearly through with me, Sir?” ting? Very good. So far, T am more h your work. Would you like a check to-day for half ‘THE Lay “_" ACADEZINE trouble at all, I assure you. Send around to my office at once; and by the way, I think T'll allow you twelve hundred instead of a thousand to pay for those first two attempts.” (Goer out and dines at @ St, Andrews’ coffee-stand.) HE HAD NO MOUSTACHE. Mr. Binks —\'ve been waiting for the chance of getting you under the mistletoe, and here we are; I claim a kiss.” Miss Jinks —* Yes; but you wouldn't be so cruel to a defense- less woman !” SHE WAS PALE. Mr. Fashion— Do you like a white Christmas, Miss Fashion ?” Miss Fashion —" Ves, it agrees with my complexion.” we — AT SARATOGA. Tue warter (holding out for a tip)—"'") 3 * How ‘d you know I wasa palm-reader? Well, I'll give you one prognostication. You're shortly to meet with a great disappointment.” (iValks out.) THE USUAL EFFECT OF CIVIL WAR. Gordon EL.sMERe (as they simultaneously discover a dime)—"* Hold on there! Han’s off! That's mine.” WaLLiNcrorD Perriuone—"'Git out! U seen it first.” Gorpon Ettsmere—"‘ Dat's der time wese made a break. Der cop's got der dime, an’ wese is out a couple o' rips in our clothes, more 'r less.”" comicbooks.com