Judge, 1896-07-04 · page 3 of 16
Judge — July 4, 1896 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Page This page contains several satirical vignettes from Judge magazine. The top illustration, "But She Wouldn't Ride a Wheel," mocks a nervous society woman reluctant to ride a bicycle—a then-controversial activity for women. The accompanying text suggests her anxious behavior during a carriage ride, poking fun at upper-class female timidity. "The Beginning of Wisdom" and other sketches below feature dialogue-based humor about everyday situations: a child's innocent song choice, Independence Day celebrations, and class interactions between servants and employers. The humor relies on character types and social pretension typical of Gilded Age satire—nervous wealthy women, working-class dialect, and servant-employer dynamics. Without specific date information visible, the precise historical context remains unclear, though bicycle adoption and gender roles appear central to the satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BUT SHE WOULDN'T RIDE A WHEEL SHE UNDERSTOOD. MBS: NEATLY’S gaze was fixed upon the upholstered sofa. During pauses in the conversation her eyes roved anxiously from the sofa to the Boston rocker. With a little start she looked frantically from the rocker to the rug. The caller noticed the nervousness of her hostess, but discreetly said nothing. Suddenly, during the most gossipy details of small talk, Mrs. Neatly sprang from her chair and rushed madly about the room. Had the guest been a man she might have called for assistance. The race and scramble continued. Darting into dark corners, almost dropping on her knees, went Mrs. Neatly; then suddenly tacking across the room she took leaps into the air with arms outstretched, Suddenly, after a very high leap, she lowered her eyes and walked slowly back to the othe: woman—who understood. The moth lay crushed in her palm, JONK 1. Jones. THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. © OH, MUZZER 1" said Freddy to his mamma the other night, “I does love you better ‘n any sing on zis earth ‘cept God, an’ I's ‘fraid not t love God best.” A REMIN ‘CE OF THE WAR, < (amazed) —" That your uncle! Why, man, you told me your uncle had arried away at Bull Kun Me carried them away himself, pretty fast, I tell you!” AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY. Sunday-school teacher —" Now, boys, speak right up and an- swer promptly, Who carried off the gates of Gaza?” Every boy (promptly and in chorus)—""Twan't me. I-dida't touch them gates.” THE DAY SET. SSYVHEN does Independence day,come, my boy?” “In fire-cracker time.” A DRY PROFESSION. Goop Lapy—"" Willing to labor at your vocation of stevedore, but financially handicapped. What are your duties as a stevedore ?” Sty SouTHsTREET—"*I stperintendgde ynloadin"of larye-schconers, lady—thankee ! : Seek Meme itlsicerae