Judge, 1893-12-09 · page 11 of 52
Judge — December 9, 1893 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Christmas Roses"** (top): A sentimental poem about a poor poet who cannot afford expensive Christmas gifts for his beloved, but manages to send roses by sacrificing meals and luxuries. The satire is gentle—mocking romantic pretension and the poet's elaborate self-pity over modest financial constraints. The accompanying photograph of roses illustrates the gift mentioned. **"Stuck on Things English"** (bottom): This cartoon ridicules an Americanized man (Mr. Softly) who affects English mannerisms and speech ("bah Jove!"). Miss Penelope points out his hypocrisy: he claims to prefer English things yet speaks with an unconvincing or garbled English accent. The satire targets Americans who ape British affectations while failing to authentically adopt them—a common Judge theme mocking cultural pretension and social climbing. Both items exploit class anxiety and romantic/social aspiration for humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHRISTMAS O HER, my sweet, who holds in tether My heart and fancy altogether, With passion yearning, T'd like to send some Christmas token Of all-the-year-round love, unspoken, Yet ever burning. But poverty, alas! is cruel. I dare not dream of gem and jewel ‘That gleam to daunt me, Nor of each rare and costly trinket, Displayed as if—I really think it— To tempt and taunt me. Had she some thought of this, I wonder, When, her soft, sweeping lashes under, Her eyes beamed brightly The while she said, in accents tender, Roses were what I ought to send her To please her rightly? Alas! dear girl, does she not know it— That I, her lover, am a poet ‘And hence my purse is Empty of coin; so, too, each pocket— Empty of all that ought to stock it Save rhymes and verses? But she must have her Christmas rose, Although the penance twill impose Is the worst and sorest. T'll have to fast like grievous sinner From many a drink, cigar and dinner To pay the florist. Don't think I grieve while 1 subscribe to This sacrifice or need a bribe to— T can afford it, Since, if my flowers will kindly move her To thoughts of me (the dear saints love her !), I'm well rewarded. M. amipcxs. yy hip Wy WU py! Ye {i 4 3 ( S iy f j NG TD ei ee y Li EE es ; VG (UR ANY liye CAI ee eh 4G, Lyi ig LY thi, , f tis AYES i ee ea CAL N Cy Male STUCK ON THINGS ENGLISH. I see you affect the English style of riding, Mr. Softly.” yes. I ain't so fond of American things, bah Jove! but I'm awfully stuck on whatever ’s English, you know.” Miss PexgLore—" Then why don't you try speaking it, Mr. Softly?” comicbooks.com