Judge, 1899-05-06 · page 3 of 17
Judge — May 6, 1899 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes superstition and folk beliefs prevalent in late 19th/early 20th-century America. The top cartoon shows characters discussing a "hoodoo" (bad luck curse) and a "mascot" (good luck charm)—both rooted in African American folklore that had entered popular culture. The satire mocks how people of all classes relied on these "mysterious powers" rather than practical solutions. The dialogue between "More Mossbunker" and "Pete Pulsing" emphasizes the absurdity: one character believes in curses while another trusts mascots, yet both avoid actual responsibility. The bottom illustration shows a rural planting scene, illustrating how such superstitions persisted in agricultural communities where unpredictable outcomes made magical thinking appealing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FOLLOWING THE ADVICE. Mose. Mossaun: T heah Ike Yallerby has eloped wif a white man’s wife ? Pare Peruin Yais ; de patriotic cuss has took up de * white man’s burden,” as Kipling says.” THE HOODOO AND THE MASCOT. HOODOO and a mascot who met one day by chance Then, when his castle ‘s builded and he finds sunshiny days, (With something of timidity and cautious looks askance) He boasts his faith in mascot and to me gives all the praise.” Fell to discussing what there was in this queer world of ours BOTH. That led some people to suppose they held mysterious powers. ** But it's the stuff within the man and not the luck outside him THE HOODOO, ‘That makes the public give applause, or pity, or deride him, * When a fellow,” said the hoodoo, “thinks that I've got up behind him Dame Fortune may be kind to him, or may be hard to woo, He lets that notion fill his head and to his errors blind him ; But she owns no aid of mascot nor hinderance of hoodoo.” So he wanders and he stumbles and dejected walks the street, “Plug the hooks aiad he. aikacoly af eppoilta ated, pwnd belts: poor: me responsible for taneling up Mis test.” Declared there was no basis for their unearned reputation, THE: MASCOE: “ , But, in language most emphatic, did on this truth agree— “* Per contra,” quoth the mascot, ‘* when a chap thinks I'm his friend . As the poet long since told us : ‘* What fools these mortals be.” He bustles and he struggles to accomplish some great end. HOWARD L ADAMS, PLANTING SEASON. Farmer PLowsitare—" Got yer plantin’ all done yit, Silas 7" Farmer Harrow—"' No, not yet, but I hope to before long. I've jest buried my aunt Jane and Uncle Jim and my son-in-law and two grandchillen, and my wife's mother is quite sick and ain't expected to linger much longer.” comicbooks.com