Judge, 1893-10-28 · page 5 of 16
Judge — October 28, 1893 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical cartoons and brief humor pieces mocking New York City politics and social pretensions circa the early 1900s. The dominant cartoon, "Twenty Years Hence," ridicules the **New York rapid-transit commission's** endless delays in building subway infrastructure. The joke: a gray-haired reporter who's attended commission meetings for 25 years laughs hysterically when the chairman mentions transit "is now in sight"—the absurdity being that promises of rapid transit have been made for decades with no progress. The commissioners are portrayed as ineffectual bureaucrats who endlessly postpone decisions. The smaller pieces target: domestic servants ("Not Like Bridget"), pretentious hotel guests ("Incog"), and social absurdities (calculating a giraffe's price per yard). "A Sign of the Times" sarcastically notes that debt collectors are now so common they're mistaken for ordinary tramps—commentary on economic hardship. The satire reflects contemporary frustration with government incompetence and broken promises regarding NYC infrastructure development.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AN EXCEPTION. “What's the matter, doctor? Not going out of business 7” “Yes, Lam. Phrenology is no good. A fellow came into my office yesterday who had hollows in his head where pugnacity ought to be, so after a dispute I called him a liar “There certainly seems to be a possibil- ity that rapid transit is in sight,” he said. “I was told yesterday that a gentleman of this city had heard that intimations had been given to another gentleman that certain gen- tlemen had knowledge of the existence of information concerning a report that certain persons had heard that a syndicate was ready to undertake the construction of an under- ground road.” “IT know that to be true,” said Mr. Starin, “ What ?” asked Mr. Bushe. “What the chairman has been saying.” replied Mr. Starin angrily. “ Well, I want to know what he has been saying,” said Mr. Bushe, “ Where is the syn- dicate?” “T don't know anything about it except what I have said,” explained the chairman. A SIGN OF THE TIMES, “What tramp is that you just Te isn't a tramp; he’s a collector TWENTY YEARS HENCE, HE New York rapid-transit commission met yesterday at three p.m. The vener- able chairman rapped for order and said, “Gentlemen, I have some reason to be- lieve that there is a possibility that rapid transit is now in sight, and "— Here a wild, demoniac laugh rang through the room and the commissioners started up in fright. ‘The offender was quick- ly discovered. He was a gray-haired reporter who had attended the meetings of the com- mission for nearly a quarter of a century. The commissioners knew that his mind had been failing for several years, but he was considered harmless until this outbreak. The chairman warned the reporter against repeat- THE LAST OBSTACLE REMOVED. “We must give the syndicate, if there is one, enough time to prepare its plans. In such an important matter as this it is necessary to go slow.” The demoniac laugh rang through the “Name the day fer our marriage, me darlin’. I've jist found er quarter.” ing the offense, and continued his remarks. room again and the reporter was put out. “ Let's do something,” suggested Mr. Porter. “Let's adjourn,” said Mr. Inman, And they adjourned. NOT LIKE BRIDGET. Wife (away on a trip)—"“I don’t believe Bridget wrote that letter that I received this morning.” Husband—" Why, it tells you all about everything at home.” Wife— Yes, Uknow; but it's signed ‘Your obedient servant.’ A LITTLE /AIXED. THE sermon had just been started, And not wishing to be rude He asked in a whisper, softly, ** Is this pie occupewed ?” A DIFFICULT QUES- TION. . sTHEY say a giraffe sells we. L RionDoN. for five thousand dol- lars." “That's a good deal of money for a giraffe. How much is that a yard on the average?” COG." era {lOTEMCLERK—"* We can't permit such a looking thing as you to register here. Cunexy WILLIAM (in a hoarse whisper)—"'Sh! Tam the duke of Set- emup, goin’ ter see the world’s fair in incognitue.’ “*GETTING DOWN TO HARD WORK.” comicbooks.com