Judge, 1891 · page 43 of 69
Judge — 1891 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge's *Annual* contains six separate humor pieces typical of late 19th-century American satire: **"A Fickle Man"** mocks someone who obsesses over Japanese cabinets (furniture) following Japan's political instability—contrasting real-world volatility with domestic permanence. **"What to Expect"** is a brief gag about a man objecting to trumpet sounds. **"Often Remarked to the Button"** jokes about a new collar style called "Yuba Dam" (likely referencing the Yuba River or dam construction) paired with collar buttons—seemingly absurd fashion coordination. **"So They Do"** presents children's humor about "gnome man's land" (pun on "no man's land"). **"Too Realistic"** shows a child injured during imaginative play, emphasizing overly literal recreation. **"Near-Sighted"** features Uncle Silé accidentally wandering into a "Sons of Isaac" (Jewish fraternal organization) dinner, mistaking it for a factory—playing on ethnic confusion and immigrant experiences. These represent period-typical humor: puns, cultural references, and gentle mockery of social pretension and confusion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A FICKLE MAN. “T see the mikado has been reconstructing the Japanese cab- inet; that’s the second change this year.” “Ts that so? Why, I've had a Japanese cabinet in my parlor for five years and haven't changed it once.” WHAT TO EXPECT. Gasrikt (placing his trumpet to his lips)—“ Toot ! too”: Mr. Houtman (rising suddenly) —T object !" JUDGE'S ANNUAL. uP THE spout. OFTEN REMARKED TO THE BUTTON. Gostin— Here's a new collah called the ‘Yuba Dam,’" Dou “T must buy some. They will go well with my col- lar-button.” SO THEY DO. “I know where the ghosts all live, papa,” remarked Johnny Cumso. “Where, Johnny?” “In gnome man’s land.” TOO REALISTIC. Boo! hoo-hoo !" yelled little Johnny. - “What is the matter, dear?” said his mother. NEAR-SIGHTED. ** Boo-hoo! Me an’ Jimmy Green was playin’ like we was cats out on the UNcLE Site (who has strolled into the Sons of Isaac dinner by mistake)— coal-shed, when some one raised up a window and hit me in the head with a boot- “‘ Excuse me, gents; I didn't know they wuz a mowin’-machine fact'ry in this jack.” buildin’.” comicbooks.com