Judge, 1899-02-18 · page 7 of 16
Judge — February 18, 1899 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several unrelated satirical pieces typical of late 19th/early 20th-century humor: **"The German Blacksmith"** uses thick German-dialect verse to celebrate manual labor—a common stereotypical portrayal of German immigrants. The poem romanticizes the blacksmith's honest work with exaggerated accent humor ("Cherman," "shtoodt"). **"A Valentine"** is sentimental romantic poetry, likely satirizing overwrought Valentine's Day sentiments through excessive melodrama about unrequited love. **"A Catastrophe"** jokes about Jewish characters (Isaacstein, "Sufferin' Rachel") where a wife discovers seasickness only after eating an expensive dinner—playing on period stereotypes and marital comedy. **"One on the Professor"** contains a mild joke about a confused professor requesting to be tied to his front door. **"About the Size of It"** defines "horse-play" through the professor character, and a final panel jokes about a child's weight creating danger on thin ice. The page reflects period attitudes toward immigrants and ethnic caricature alongside conventional Victorian humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sudge THE GERMAN BLACKSMITH. ER Cherman blackshmidt—yah, dot's me, As at der forge I shtoodt, A useful wairkman, you'll agree. I do der town some goodt, A-standin’ at mein glowin’ post, Yoost like old Vulcan, so! Nor mind der shparks nor mind der roast, For | moosdt airn der ** dough.” Der blackshmidt is a labor scion: + Happy mit his lot ; : He blows und heats der ready iron Und shtrikes it ven it's hot— Clink-clonk ! clink-clonk ' der live-long day Berspirin’ yoost like rain, Look on der jolly blackshmidt, A Cherman Tubal C: ZRISTIC OF HIM “A VALENTINE, small and fi My sweetheart—only mine In these reckless words I trace — "he postman hurries apace To bring you a valentine For once 1 will speak my mind ; You will hear the silent truth Deep in this heart confined. You will know at last, forsooth, ‘The plaint of one hopeless youth Who long and alone hath pined. Will you turn up your pretty nose, With a very prompt turning down Of the hopes that these lines disclose? Will love in a burry crown The happiest bey in town ? Tut, however, fate’s sure wind blows My sweetheart, small and fine, Ah, could / but hide, and go - In this heart-sent verse of mine ! A CATASTROPH If T have but the ghost of a show, Mrs. ISAACSTEIN: 'm afraid I'm goin’ to be seasig, Isaac.” Ah, could T be there to know, Mr. Isaacsteix—" Sufferin’ Rachel! Vhy couldn't you find dot oud pefore you eat dot feefty-cend When you open my valentine ! dinner 7" . ONE ON THE PRO- FESSOR. * said the professor mily, “the horse ts not quite ready to go; please drive me up to the front door and tie me securely PASS IT ALONG! WHEN some rascal sends to us Low comic valentines, Making us ridiculous With pictured doggere! lines We don't curse and throw away Some heads may fit the cap— Tat re-address without delay ‘To some other chap ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT. Little Elmer —" Papa. what is * horse-play "?” Professor Broadhead —" \t is the cutting of capers of the kind that if indulged in by a horse would cause the animal to be shot on suspicion of mental and moral unsoundness PRECAUTIONARY. * What did you pin that on for?” “Cause he ain't safe to be on the pond, ‘The ice bends under him, and if he should fall just think what a hole he'd make!" comicbooks.com