Judge, 1896-03-07 · page 3 of 18
Judge — March 7, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 151 This page contains a story titled "The Traveler's Return" about a young man named Jared who traveled to Europe and returned to his small hometown (an Eastville store). The narrative satirizes provincial American attitudes toward foreign travel and cultural sophistication. The main joke targets small-town prejudice: the townspeople initially resented Jared's "fortunate enough to visit a foreign country" but welcomed him back, eager for stories. Uncle Dan and the crowd want to hear about Paris and France, but Jared's account apparently disappoints them—they expected grand tales but got mundane details instead. The satire mocks both the travelers' pretension and small-town anti-intellectualism. The bottom illustrations labeled "Unanimous Skepticism at Dead Gulch" and a dialogue between Mrs. Casey and others reinforce this theme of skepticism toward Jared's worldly experience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TRAVELER'S RETURN. WHEN Jared Sparklin returned from bis trip to Europe the crowd in the Eastville store waited for his story with envious anticipations. They knew he would brag, and they did not know how to bring about that humiliation which was necessary to sat- isfy their natural prejudice against a young man who had been fortunate enough to visit a foreign country. Jared came and met the crowd. Uncle Dan and the rest told him they were mighty glad to IRRECOVERABLE. Mrs. Casey (Selligerentl)—"* Phere's yer week's wages, an’ th’ rint comin’ due ter-morrer ?” on ants CASEY" Be alsy thin, Bridget. Of losht it troo a hole—so i did.” Mrs. Casry—"* In yer pocket?” Mr. Caszy—"' Be aisy thin, darlint—it slipped troo a hole in me a I face.’ Ne | i} A DOUBLE USE FOR THEM. Mr. BUNKER (of the Canajoharie fire-brigade)—* Say, 'Mandy, whut d’ye think 0’ these ne-ew kickers 7" Mas. BUNKER (woith a sympathetic glance at her daughter)—"* What did yew git them clod-wollopers fer—ter keep th’ sparks fram settin’ yer pants afire 7” seniliy BUNKER (caliciously)—" Yes! and ter keep th’ ‘sparks’ frum our gallate o nights." see him back and wanted to know all avout his voyage and his experiences. Jared accommodated them. After he had given a voluble and exciting account of everything Uncle Dan asked, “You went to Paris, I suppose ?” Jared replied that he did and then described the city and its sights. “ Did you get to France?” asked Uncle Dan very seriously. Jared pitied the ignorance, and after explaining that Paris was the capital of France told what he had seen in that country. “T guess you went over to the continent ?” said Uncle Dan, more solemnly than ever. A look of real pain crossed the traveler's face, but he promptly enlightened the dumb villagers. “My, you have seen a lot!" said Uncle Dan in admiration. “ Paris and France and England and the continent and all them places. I guess some of these days you'll be taking a trip to Europe 2” Then it was that Jared left, and the crowd put on their hats and went home UNANIMOUS SKEPTICISM AT DEAD GULCH. Proressor BLUFFEM —‘'* Gents, you have closely watched me load this revolver that my assistant will fire at me point blank. Now, if there is one —1— 0 skeptic here let him come forward and examine "——