Judge, 1897-05-15 · page 7 of 22
Judge — May 15, 1897 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine presents multiple satirical vignettes typical of the publication's humor circa the early 1900s. **"Mechanical Verification"** mocks cyclists ("scorchairs"—fast riders) by having European aristocrats confuse bicycle riding with mechanical steam power, suggesting the bicyclist travels at dangerously high speed. **Other brief comic sketches** include wordplay and ethnic humor: "Callous" jokes about pneumatic tires (newly common on bicycles); "Her Only Salvation" features working-class Irish dialect humor; "Patsy Meant Well" plays on a child's misunderstanding of "leper" as "bull-frog"; the "Legal Dilemma" uses Irish-dialect humor about mule ownership disputes. **"An Acrobatic Coup"** appears to depict Black characters in a physical comedy scenario with racist dialect ("Rastus"). The page reflects Judge's mix of genteel satire for educated readers alongside period-typical ethnic and racial caricature that modern audiences would find offensive. The bicycle references suggest early-1900s dating, when cycling was fashionable among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
MECHANICAL VERIFICATION, uNT—"‘Ah, I now see why you call zat man a scorchaire ; cet ees because he rides ze hot pace.” Eriet—" Yes, count; he turns on full steam.” CALLOUS. A BROKEN CHORD. HER stockinged foot struck on a tack. THE. viols shivered sweetly low, She shrieked, but not in ire, As tenderly the lute . : . ~ | Imparted strains of joy and woe Thank goodness it was but my foot ; “That made our heart-strings mute. Not my pneumatic tire !" 1 But, oh ! can fair Apollo's ire Be evermore appeased ? HER ONLY SALVATION. f s Ere final chord could us inspire, Billy — Sis quit her job in Gonny- y LT pen erey broker's. All her teeth wuz decayin’.” Jimmy —* What's that gotter do x \ " NOT QUITE THROUGH. with her job?" . t Aunt Sarak (to nephew from the Billy —“ She tended th’ candy q \ == city) —“Is Uncle Cyrus through milk- counter. j i ing, Teddy >" | Teddy—" Not quite. He's finished PATSY MEANT WELL. F two faucets and has just begun on the ++ NOW. boys.” said the Sunday- j other two.” school teacher, after reading the story of Naaman, “can you tell me A LEGAL DILEMMA. what a leper is?’ Judge —" Who owns the mule?” “Yis, mom,” promptly replied Casey —** 1 own wan balf ov him Patsy. ; an’ Fogarty owns the ithur, yer haner.” “ Well, what is it ?” f Judge —"Then what's the “Sure, an’ it’s a bull-frog.” : trouble ?” “ Why, what do you mean 2” ; Casey —“ Fogarty won't let his 't a bull-frog jump, mom?* ATELEASTC AT SEEMED GO” half work.” * Certainly. a ~ ** How many bicycle-riders do you suppose there are in the country 7" Judge —" Court 's adjourned, I “ Well, thin, ain't he a leper? “Tdon't know, but I meet them all every time I cross the street.”” must look up the law.” | AN ACROBATIC COUP, *Rastus—"* Quick, pap! ds, i " ; ° ¢ en te Quick Pap! grab mah hands, Dat big frawg ‘Il jump ef 1 — (Big N—We'se got ‘im comicbooks.com |