Judge, 1891-01-03 · page 10 of 16
Judge — January 3, 1891 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine (appears to be circa 1890, based on "Echoes of 1890") contains multiple short humorous sketches and cartoons reflecting late 19th-century American comedy. The dominant piece, "Watch-Meetin'," uses heavy dialect to depict an African American character explaining how he arrived at a New Year's Eve church gathering—the humor relies on racist stereotyping common to the era. Other sketches employ puns and domestic humor: a couple argues about bellows "coming to blows"; a woman corrects her accent; New Year's resolutions are mocked. The illustrations at bottom show an elephant in two poses—the caption "Don't Monkey with the Elephant" likely references political cartoons of the era, though the specific reference is unclear without additional context. Much of the page's comedy depends on wordplay, marital disputes, and character types rather than specific political events. The racist dialect humor represents attitudes that were considered acceptable entertainment at Judge's time.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE WATCH-MEETIN’. ON" shoot! Dis heah is only How'd Tcum heah? Well, Dis niggah's right From chu’ch dis night. It bein’ New Year's eve, I'se been To watch de yeah go out an’ in. me! sah, yo" see, We sing de hallelayah chants, Some got de pow'r an’ some de trance ; ‘An’ wen de bell Begin to tell — How'd I cum Acad f Well, dat’s jes’ wot I'se tellin’ yo". ‘Le’s see, I'got To w'en de bell pete weenie, ole yeah out, de new yeah in, Wid talleluyah an’ amin Lkno'd some varmi So run to git de chicken loose But wea L come ‘An ‘zackly w'en Dis heah way home, Igradde hen, Jes’ as I'se cuttin’ cross yo’ yahd ‘Ap’ dat ofe yarmint up an’ run, beah'd yo' chickens squakin’ habd. Wry, sah, yo" got heah wid dat gun. How'd I git wean? Well, sah, it ain't Jes’ right to prosecute a saint, Yorsced de varmint? Had two legs? Dat hangs de jury! One my pegs s off. yo’ know. Sah, I mus’ go, Tell yo", watch-meetin’ am de place Ter ind de speshly-needed grace. Le 8 CAKE, IT REQUIRES NO CALCULATING. Cumso—" If one pair of bellows costs two-dollars and seventy-two and three-quarters cents, what will three pairs of bellows come to?” Mrs, Cumso—"T'm not good at figures, and I don’t care anyhow. Cumso—" Oh, well, Tl tell you. They will come to blows.” ECHOES OF 1890. ISTEN to the dying echoes Of the dead old year. Damp McG—y, A—e R Float upon the ear! Let them float and die, but weep not. Full of equal cheer, In the coming, humming twelvemonth, Other songs we'll hear. A. CORRECTION. ‘AREN'T you fond of the foot- lights’ glare?” asked the Bos- ton girl, “Yes; I am fond of the feetlight's glare,” replied she from Cincinnati, Ys THE VERY WORST. [ CAN'T see much in any fad, But, as an institution, 1 know not one that's half so bad As the new-year resolution, BENEFITS OF LITERATURE. Fleecy—""1 had an unexpected Toxc —"* Wantee check 2” (he contractor) —"* Wantee check! ez Vink Oi'd be afther crawin’ me check fer th’ phrice av wan You're a fortunate Shirert?” ( ly great-grandfather, you know, was. somethi writer, and the ly Monthly has just published one of his a articles.” DON'T MONKEY WIT! RECUPERATING. Mr. RostLe—"* Da's a prime scar'crow yo'se got, aunty.” Mrs. Wittssiz —"* Dat ain't no scar‘crow. Da’s my daughter Lize. She's done been a-drinkin’ hot tea, an’ she’s a-coolin’ her mouf off.” SUBSTANCE AND SHADOW. ‘YOU always seem to be in good humor," was said to a material- izing medium. “Yes; I have to keep up my spir- its,” she replied. WHAT WAS LEFT. ITIWAS a week after Christmas and Bobkins Sat down to his-evening meal, There were stale bread and butter and codfish ; Ile sighed and looked over at Néil. ~ “My dear, we had turkey for Christmas, And cranberry squce and mince pie ; T really don’t relish #4is dinner.” Quoth Neil very meekly, ** NorT.” “* Well, haven't you some of that tik I carved ; didn’t get half my fil Quoth Neil, still sedately and m * My dear, nothing's left but f A MISUNDERSTANDING. TOO DEAR FOR PRESENTS: Dolley—"1 don't know what’ to give my sister for a birthday present.” Gostin — Give her a penwiper made of a raw potato.” 2 Look here, I don’t mind going to a little expense, but do you happen to know how much potatoes cost this year?” Yer paynut-eyed hay- IL THE ELEPHANT, comicbooks.com