Judge, 1896-06-27 · page 4 of 17
Judge — June 27, 1896 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* magazine contains three satirical pieces: **"The Delayed Prayer"** is a humorous domestic story about a young, lisping boy (Willie) embarrassed to pray with his aunt present. When he forgets the words to "Our Father," his frustrated outburst ("Oh, shaw!") and subsequent tantrum—punching the chair, then his aunt—satirize childhood dignity and the absurdity of forced piety. The joke hinges on his lisp and the contrast between expected reverence and actual childish behavior. **"Brain Work"** is a brief comic dialogue mocking married men who fabricate excuses (pretending church attendance requires "thinking up excuses") to avoid their wives' expectations. **"Leap-Year"** shows a woman proposing to a poor man, satirizing the social convention that allowed women to propose during leap years, and critiquing economic desperation in romance. The page also features a photograph of performer Bertha Ricci and an illustration labeled "A Forced Concession" about drinking salt water—likely topical humor now obscure.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
watah, it makes one thusty !” A FORCED CONCESSION. Cononet. RvE (who has swallowed a portion of a“ breaker")—"'\'ll say one good thing of this salt JUDGE'S FAVORITES. BERTHA RICCI, —'tis your cue to reappear, A joy to see, and a delight to hear. THE DELAYED PRAYER. THE mother was ill, ‘The aunt was in charge. ‘The time had arrived for juvenile prayers and robes de nuit. Willie was summoned to kneel at his a junt’s side to repeat a pater noster, Willie was fair, fat and four; he had red hair and a very pro- nounced lisp. Incipient manhood was casting its shadows before, and Willie's dignity revolted at’ the thought of being chaperoned to the throne of grace by his auntie. He indicated an intention to pray on his own responsibility. He prostrated himself before a chair behind his aunt. He lifted up his voice and said, * Our Fa-th-er "— He paused. His memory was at fault. Again, Our Fa-th-er"—— Mus Faxatex — “* You ought to have a good home, and not be wandering around the country so.” BRAIN WORK * How do you like wedded bliss, Jack ?” IL right, except the Sunday work."” * Going to church, I suppose ” ‘0; thinking up excuses for not going LEAP- YEAR. husband ?” Another pause. Silence reigned for at least sixty seconds. not an imploring hand, but a tightly-clinched little fist. which he brought down with a bang upon It’s a terrible mental ‘Then he raised toward heaven— the chair before which he kneeled. The thud served as a musical accompaniment to the ejaculation, “Oh, shaw !" The aunt's risibles became ex- cited. The prayer-meeting was growing unique. She turned her head to take a look at the little roly- poly figure all enveloped in a union- suit of canton flannel. Willie saw the ill-concealed smile upon her face. To the perplexity regarding his fugi- tive prayer was added the sting of being laughed at. He blushed until the rubicundity of his face rivaled that of his hair. He became little William Rufus. To work off his embarrassment he jumped to his feet, ran to his aunt, again doubled up his fist, this time bringing it down upon her back with the half-tearful, half-laughing command, juth you fixth it. Fix what, Willie?” said his now sobered aunt. “Why, fixth my prayer. Ith's got into a thnarl Weary WILLIE —"* Oh, dis is so sudden, mum—but could yer support a comicbooks;c;