Judge, 1896-06-20 · page 8 of 22
Judge — June 20, 1896 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine **Judge** contains multiple humorous sketches typical of late 19th/early 20th-century American comedy: **"Difficult to Discover"** mocks theatrical farce by having an actor (Hamlet Thespian) seek a legal warrant against a playwright for stealing—not his work, but the *plot* of a farce-comedy written for him, implying the play has no coherent plot. **"Diluted"** is a simple restaurant joke: a diner complains water is dirty with milk; the waiter reveals it actually *is* milk, inverting the complaint. **"A Plantation Lullaby"** uses dialect humor common to the era, presenting a nursery rhyme sung to an enslaved child, filled with stereotypical imagery (coon-dogs, watermelons, possum hunting). This reflects period racial attitudes rather than satire of them. The page also includes portrait photography and romantic sketches with light social commentary on vanity and relationships. The humor relies on wordplay, situational comedy, and period-specific theatrical references rather than political content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Copyright by B. J. Fath, JUDGE'S FAVORITES, MARIE BATES AS MRS. MURPHY IN‘ CHIMMIE. FADDEN,” Bravissima! our artist fine, Whose genius tells in every line; Whose every picture proves anew How varied artis, and how true: Whose each new outward semblance shows The life that underneath it glows. DIFFICULT TO DISCOVER. Hamlet Thespian —" Judge, I want a search- warrant against Shakespeare Playright.” Judge Woolsack—* What are your reasons for making the application, sir? Have you reason to suspect that Playright has stolen anything of yours?” Hamlet Tkespian— Ob, no; it's not that at all. But you see he has just written a farce-comedy for me, and I must take some extreme measures to find the plot.” ALL IS VANITY. W'TH flirting and boating she idles the day, And at night she believes that the hop is the best ; While all her spare moments she gossips away, And that’s what a woman calls taking a rest. Groxcr. (passionatrly)—" My darling! Nothing shall part us.” DILUTED. Diner—"' Here, waiter ; this water is dirty—there’s been milk in the tumbler.” WatiteR—"* Why, boss, dat is milk.” PROPHETIC. And at that moment, as if in verification, Cholly Noddy approached unannounced ! A PLANTATION LULLABY, AMMY’S little pickaninny gwine to go to sleep— Hush a by-by, hush a by. Doan’ yo' hear de coon-dog bayin' loud an’ deep? Hush a by-by, bush a by. Mock-birds’ notes a-callin’, doan’ yo’ hear ‘em sing? Pappy's gone a-huntin’, an’ a possum home ‘Il bring, ‘There's wortermelons coolin’ in the shadderso’ the spring, Hush a pickaninny, an’ a by-by. There's sweet pertaters bilin’ an’ a ham-bone to boot, Hush a by-by, hush a by. Pappy’s got a grave-yard rabbit's left hind foot, Hush a by-by, hush a by. So hush a pickaninny while de sout’ winds moan, Go to sleep so mammy can go lieb yo" all alone, Fer she’s goin’ to make yo'r pappy a big co'n pone Hush a pickaninny. an’ a by-vy ROY FARRELL GRREXE. comicbooks.co