Judge, 1896-05-16 · page 4 of 16
Judge — May 16, 1896 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page satirizes the growing tension between **visual media and literary narrative** in early 20th-century publishing. The central dialogue between "The Pictures" and "The Story" personifies a real industry shift: illustrated magazines were increasingly prioritizing striking images over substantial text. **The main cartoon** depicts competing figures at an editor's desk debating whose importance matters more. Pictures boasts that visuals now dominate—readers look at images, not words. Story defends its literary merit, but Pictures dismisses this as outdated, claiming cartoons, posters, and photographic reproductions are the future. **The irony**: The editor resolves the conflict by **redrawing all pictures and cutting the story in half**—validating Pictures' point while proving both are ultimately subordinate to commercial demands. The surrounding short pieces ("Hard Luck," "Pertinent Text") are satirical vignettes with moralizing punchlines typical of Judge's humor. They're unrelated to the main editorial commentary about media competition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
uae Story. “I am cabled under the ocean and flash- ed over the con- tinent across the wires, and speeded in the mails with quick-delivery stamps. I am* evolved out of the history of the world’s events, and brains and capi- tal and enter- prise seek me. I am news and fiction; 1 am love and politics and war and di- plomacy. Czars know and fear me, and I am welcomed in the homes of pover- IN GOOD CONDITION. ty, where my aid Doctor Dosem—" My boy, don’t you know that cigarettes paralyze nae F i the lungs?" JUDGES FAVORITES: Gapishes ihe Roy—" Oh, I dunno, You orter hear me holler when dad ketches CISSY FITZGERALD. wolf, But you me smokin’ ‘em.” I should not think You'd waste a wink Ina merely canine pow-wow. But if such be the case, Put me in his place, And treat me like a bow-wow, THE PICTURES AND THE STORY. THE Pietures and the proof-sheets of the Story lay side by side on the managing editor's desk. The Pictures glanced supercil- ously at the Story. It's really a pity, the way I overshadow your importance now- You know the newspapers and magazines wouldn't have e for you at all if it were not for me.” ‘The Story snorted. “Your conceit is past belief,” it said. “ Why, you were ordered especially for me, and you don’t bring out my best points now." “It just happened that we were ordered for you,” replied the Pictures. “It's usually the other way. As for your good points, I heard the editor say you had to be changed to suit us.” The Story was red with anger. “You may say what you please,” it said, but you are only a fad, and your Aubrey Beardsley fame will be short-lived. People only look :.t you, but they will remember me.” “Hear! hear!" cried the Pictures derisively. “Do you not know that the cartoon, the poster, the half-tone and the photogravure have come to stay? Do you forget the artist and the photographer and the "— A SUGGI _The patent masticator ; an aid to the tough-steak vending restaurateur; also to the digestion of our too-hurried business men. A PERTINENT TEXT. Parson Henty —“' Bredrin, I onnerstans dere is a deadlock in dis congregashun whedder toe send de fund on hand ob fo'teen dollahs toe free Cubah, or toe donate “ . i on : it toe yo" pastor. Pussonly on dat subject /hez nuffin’ toe say. ( Pause.) Mah tex’ It is 1 on whom you and all of them depend,” interrupted the fo' de day, bredrin, am, ‘And charity beginneth at home." —what have you done?” The Pictures seemed to re- flect. “ Did you ever write a story - without words?” The Story hesitated an in- stant. “Here, Jim,” said the man- aging editor, “take this stuff and have all the pictures redrawn. and cut the story down one-half. I may be able to use it then MARY C. FRANCIS. HARD LUCK. A TRAMP begged for bread at a cooking-school door ; A girl gave him cake she had made just before. ‘The tramp took a bite; then said he, with a groan, T asked you for” ‘ead and you gave me a stone. comicbooks.com