Judge, 1891-12-05 · page 41 of 52
Judge — December 5, 1891 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a Christmas ghost story rather than political satire. The narrative concerns a German baron (von Gherienstein) visited by supernatural guests on Christmas Eve—a minstrel and his own deceased father—who reminisce about past exploits while the living baron grows increasingly exasperated, asking "where do I come in?" The humor derives from the generational clash: the ghost and elderly minstrel monopolize conversation with old war stories, leaving the current baron feeling excluded and irrelevant in his own home. The author's note at bottom reveals meta-textual trickery—Ludwig, another character, was originally supposed to appear disguised but was replaced because the author thought old Wulf would create a better story. The page concludes with an advertisement: "SOHMER PIANOS ARE THE BEST." This is primarily entertainment content, not political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS JUDGE. that the baron slept, but he didn’t, as a light step attracted hi once. Looking up he saw the venerable minstrel. “Ha!” said he, in a glad tone, “thou art early to-night, governor.” Nay, sonny,” replied the old man, drawing a watch* from his pocket “tis now the midnight hour.” The baron started. wrong.” “True, drink of tention at “So?” said he; “my chronometer must be said the old man, seating himself and taking a generous ; “how's things ?” At that moment the clock struck, a sudden gust of wind came down the chimney, and another being entered. “Ha!” said the baron. * Great Scott!” ejaculated the minstrel. “Hello!” said the newcomer in astonishment. Then one looked at the other in amazement. The newcomer re- gained his self-control first and helped himself to the brimming goblet before the bawn and drank deep, while the minstrel followed his example with the other bumper. “Say,” said the baron, as soon as he could speak, “where do I come it 2 The two guests winked at each other over their glasses and shrugged their shoulders. “Say,” began again the lawful baron von Gherienstein, growing angry, “where do I" ‘The other two having drained their potion set their glasses upon the table together and then held out their hands. “Wulf, oid man, I'm glad to see you a said the person who had entered last. “You don’t remember him, do you, Carl, my boy? He died before your time.” “Died 2" quoth the baron in righteous anger. “Died? He's not dead! That is Ludwig von Gherienberg. I recognized his monogram on his watch.” hen Wulf the minstrel and the old ex-baron von Gherienstein, for was none other, looked at each other and had a good German la ‘ : aks “T took the watch a little while ago from a beggar outside the castle # Although watches were not in use at that period I am not going to spoil a good story at the risk of being considered anachronistic.—r. §. a. gates," ex- plained the min- strel. “He was coming in at first and then he said he reckoned he wouldn’t. Said he guessed he'd go over to Gherienberg, where he imag- ined he'd have a better re- ception “Carl, my boy,” broke in the shade of the baron’s father, “ you are forget: ful. Why don’t you fill my glass? Tsay, Wulf,” he continued, “‘d'ye “Say,” said the baron, ‘* where de I come in ?* recollect that Xmas eve when we collared that cardinal about eighty years ago? Wasn't that great?” The baron obeyed his father and sat watching the two old men as they discussed doughty deeds achieved before his time, and he also won- dered, meanwhile, whether the beggar whom Wulf met was really Ludwig von Gherienberg, who, disguised, was coming to see him and got scared at the last moment and skipped. NOTE BY THE AUTHOR—At first it really seemed to me that Ludwig would call, disguised as a minstrel, but when I saw how mad the baron got when the suspected prince pulled out his watch, I thought it would be better to have Ludwig back out and let old Wulf take his place. Ludwig would not have had a ghost of a chance when the two barons had once found him out, and that would not have been a nice ending to a Christ- mas story, so I sent him home and brought out old Wulf as the next best thing to do. YLAVEL SCOTT MINES, PIANOS ARE JEE Bisa 1 comicbooks.com