Judge, 1894-05-12 · page 5 of 16
Judge — May 12, 1894 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple unrelated satirical sketches typical of Judge's humor: **"Life of a Ward-Heeler"** (top): A three-panel sequence showing a political operative's progression—before a bar (as customer), behind a bar (as bartender), and before the bar (as defendant). This mocks the corrupt urban "ward-heeler," a political intermediary who traded favors for votes, often through saloons. **Other sketches** mock Victorian-era social pretensions and relationships: a tramp claiming to use currency as eyeglass cleaner; a man grateful his wife's father will support her if he dies; a suitor rejecting a wealthy woman over freckles; office workers borrowing signs to skip work. **"Interrupted Soliloquy"** (bottom): A farmer's romantic monologue about spring is cut short by someone yelling about wheat in a barrel—deflating sentimentality with rural practicality. The humor relies on class contrasts, hypocrisy, and unexpected punchlines rather than specific political events. It reflects late 19th/early 20th-century American urban and rural life.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE OF A WARD-HEELER. 3— Before the bar. 1—Before the bar. 2—Behind the bar, BETTER THAN CHAMOIS. Tramp (at farm kitchen-door)—* Madam, do you happen to have a two-dollar bill about you that - you could loan me for a few moments ?” Ars. Hay—" No, | hain’t!" Tramp—" Very well, ma'am; any other denomination will do as well. I wanted to use it to clean me gold eye-glasses. Opticians say"—— (Door bangs.) ONE EXCEPTION. seMY FRIEND, do M you believe in the eternal fitness of things?” “Yes, sir: of every- thing but this suit of clothes I have on.” UNLOOKED-FOR. He —*There’s one 4—Hehind the bars, thing I am glad of. If anything should happen to me my wife’s father would always take care of her.” She father?” “But suppose something should happen to your wife's “THE PARTING OF THE WAYS.” Primus—* She was very rich, Why didn't Jobson marry her?” Secundus—" Before he kissed her he asked if her freckles were catching.” Tomhe Loar A SIGN OF THE TIMES. WIISPERINGS OF LOVE. Lacuyer—* Where is that sign, * Back in ten minutes’?” “At last, dearest, we are alone, Let me whisper to you the soft murmurings Boy—" The man in the next office borrowed it. He said he wanted of love which no other ear but yours should hear.” to go to the ball-game.” Van qe INT ERRUPTED SOLILOQUY. Voice, (in the rear)—"*C th’ other barril !" Town rort—" How beautiful is the spring, when all nature seems "— Bit out 0° this field o' spring wheat or I'll give ye comicbooks.com