Judge, 1893-02-04 · page 7 of 16
Judge — February 4, 1893 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine contains multiple short satirical pieces typical of late-19th/early-20th-century American humor: **"A Drop of Ink"** is a poem about journalism's power—how words can make or break fortunes, end relationships, or inspire great works. **The cartoon sketches** depict working-class and racial stereotypes common to the era: a Black porter offering to carry a basket, and dialogue about cheap housing and urban life. These reflect period attitudes rather than progressive satire. **"Not So Much to Lose"** jokes about a man preferring to bring his cheaper cane rather than his expensive umbrella to a dinner party. **"Not Too High"** satirizes a haggling tenant negotiating apartment rent with an agent. **"Lucky Man"** concludes with dark humor: a man dodges marriage expenses by paying court damages instead—the implication being marriage costs more than a legal settlement. The overall tone reflects genteel, middle-class satire focused on domestic life, class pretension, and legal/financial mishaps rather than political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE A DROP OF INK. REVENGE, DROP of ink may make or break, Tt may compiete a wondrous song, Five hundred thousand dollars take ; Or put a woman in the wrong ; Cause a divorce or word a pledge, It may engage a singer when Or be in law an entering wedge. She's promised not to sing again. It may complete a novel fine, It may an article inspire The “lastly” of a great divine ; That will all readers truly tire; Or it may, in a letter cute, It may hold out to write a pun, Lead to a breach-of-promise suit, But then its mission sure is done. Laon wean. NOT SO MUCH TO LOSE. Bingo—“ When you and your wife come over to my house to-night you had better bring along your umbrella. It looks like rain.” Kingley —" No; V'll bring my cane, It didn’t cost as much as my umbrella.” ** Want yo! basket carried, boss 2° **No; I don’t want it carried. Don't bother me, you EXPLAINED. little vagabond.” 6eTTHE Venus of T Milo is only a bit of symbolism,” said Hawkins. “ Venus is the god- dess of love as op- posed to Mars, the god of war, and naturally appears unarmed.” NOT TOO HIGH. “Yer, mistah ; gib me a cent banana, right quick.” Vor Blumer — i “ How much is this apartment on the ground floor ?” Agent — Fifty- ae 1 Lge five dollars a PEA LE HRS 3 ; ii month.” 2) KE fy) i Von Blumer — “And the ope above i" Agent —* Fifty dollars a month.” Von Blumer — “ How many stories has this building Agent—"Elev- en.” COMPELLED TO LAUGH. Uo see “ What in thunder are you laughing so much for, Bill? Idon’t see "Then I'll engage anything to laugh at." the roof for next Biti—"" I came in on a pass and have to laugh.” summer.” “Ef he treads on dat peelin’ he’s a goner, sho’ ‘nough.” “The idea of paying twenty-five cents for carrying a basket home! It’s— preposterous !"* LUCKY MAN. Trévvet —" The jury in Miss Keswick’s breach-of-prom- ise case against Hilow gave her ten thousand dollars dam- ages.” Dicer —“ That's money in Hilow’s pocket. If he had RETRIBUTION 5 : z DAvauren=s Our evan asada married her she would have cost him more than that in three Farner —" What an awful change it will be for him !" years.’ comicbooks.com }