Judge, 1895-03-23 · page 10 of 16
Judge — March 23, 1895 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three separate satirical pieces: **"The Cane Chair"** depicts a tedious social obligation: a visitor left to entertain an elderly grandmother delivers rambling, pointless anecdotes (ox-tail soup recipes, storm stories, worn bonnets) with long awkward silences. The satire mocks both the obligation of polite small talk and elderly people's tendency toward repetitive reminiscence. **"A Deserved Rebuke"** shows a street newsboy confronting a wealthy philanthropist. When told to wash his dirty face, the boy retorts that rich people hoard money so tightly that poor children can't afford soap—turning the moralistic rebuke back on its hypocrite. This critiques wealthy charity that demands poor people "improve themselves" while maintaining economic systems that prevent it. **"A Lightning-Change Artist"** references boxer Jim Corbett, showing a child challenging another to fight, then nervously backing down once the name "Jim Corbett" is invoked—humor based on Corbett's famous fighting reputation making even invoking his name a deterrent. The page reflects late 19th-century class tensions and social commentary through humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4186 udge THE CANE CHAIR. “GRANDMA.” LADY visiting friends in Jersey persuaded the family to go to church one Sunday morning and leave her to look after “ grandma,” ninety years old. After the people had gone and the old lady was seated comfortably the guest commenced writing letters. Grandma watched her for a while in silence and then, seeming to think some duties at entertaining devolved upon her, asked airily, “ Did you know 't I went to Boston alone two years Well, I did. Lucreeshy give the nigger half a dollar, but he never done nothin’ fur me. Peter met me to the train,” Quiet for fifteen minutes and then, * You know if you make ox-tail soup you hev to j‘int it, don’t ye ?” “No, dear.’ “Well, ye do.” Clock ticks and pen scratches for twenty minutes more. “Do you know how to make mixed yarn?” “No, grandma, I never learned.” “ Well, it’s dyed ‘fore it’s card- ed; that’s all they is to it.” Another long pause and then, “I've wore that same bunnit more ‘n fifteen year.” Stage wait, 3 “Twas in that big storm on Staten island in September, I forgit what year; an’ it blew down the whole Methodist camp-meetin’ ground. The air was full of boards, “That was an experience, wasn’t it?” “None of you young folks ‘il ever see a storm like that.” “ Quite likely not.” Quiet again. The guest wrote rapidly and grandma dozed. Suddenly after a short nap she roused herself, sat bolt upright and remarked with an air of concession, “ Well, if everything goes right and we all live I'll wear my under teeth an’ my broshay silk to the weddin’, Here comes the folks.” A DESERVED REBUKE. STREET URCHIN —"' Paper, mister?” © ANTI-PHILANTHROPIST—" Get out, you dirty imp! Go wash your face and hands. STKEET URCHIN —* How kin I when you finanshul duffers hold onter yer duckets so tight dat 2 feller can't git ‘nough skids togedder to buy soap wid ?” —you should sit down and wait, sor.” MADELINE ORVIS. A LIGHTNING-CHANGE ARTIST. Tite SMALL ONE—"' Yo! dasn't fight! Yo" dasn't fight ! I dar yo" t' fight! I dar yo' t fight — Jim Corbett! Jim Corbett! I meant yo" dasn’t fight Jim Corbett !” comicbooks.co /fter a The always vear ut -Dran Natu popular is attra "Sa Uncle: snyt in; er heag a) \ 1 f 1 | m