Judge, 1899-06-03 · page 7 of 16
Judge — June 3, 1899 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page commemorates Memorial Day (Decoration Day), observed May 30th. The dominant piece, "The Phantom Host," is a solemn poem about fallen soldiers—described as an invisible procession of the war dead marching alongside living veterans. The accompanying illustrations show Civil War soldiers and graves, honoring those who died "that all day long...had swirled" in battle. The page balances this patriotic tribute with lighter humor: anecdotes about a bride fainting at her wedding, a Jewish immigrant (Mr. Abrahams) joking about fire insurance on asbestos, and rural characters (Flowery Fields and Purling Brooks) discussing barking dogs. The juxtaposition—solemn war commemoration alongside everyday comedy—reflects how American magazines of this era mixed patriotic sentiment with humor. The Jewish character's dialect humor was typical (if offensive by modern standards) of 1890s American publishing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
age THE PHANTOM HOST. MAY 30TH, 1899. 'O THOSE who have the soul to see, Amid the few who march to-day, Worn with long years, there passes by A host, erect and young and gay. Full of a soldier's high resolve, Fair with the fairness of the brave, Heartened with hope and love and prayers, ‘They march to find a soldier's grave. To-day and all the coming days ‘That mourn the blood that kept us free, Forevermore this host shall pass— For those who have the soul to see. Mis. GEORGE ANCHIBALD HER PRESENCE OF MIND. Aunt Broadhead (who has been vis- iting)—" When Abby Stang was married, 4 over at Kohokus, she fainted dead away jest before the minister could pronounce ‘em man an’ wife.” Mrs, Longnecker—* My land! What Unto the maiden of my heart happened?” By mail I did propose : Aunt Broadhead (dryly) —" Oh, she Then waited for what might turn up— come to before the groom could git away.”” Alas! it was her nose. ALL THAT WAS LACKING FIRE-INSURANCE AGENT —"' Here is your fire-in- surance policy, Mr. Abrahams. See anything wrong about ity Mx. Auratams—" Vell, no; except dot I vish you had. made it out on asbestos paper.”” ABOVE THEIR GRAVES, ABOVE their graves was once a bugle blown, And in the dusk their battle-flag was furled That all day long, far through the strife, had swirled Till darkness more than night was overthrown, Above their graves have alien flowers grown ; Strange, alien birds are in the May-winds whirled ; And in strange climes they're hidden from the world By dust that cannot claim them for its own. Our loving hearts outreach our weakling hands, And though we cannot ease some vague regret What time the ways are all a-blossom, yet, Oh, dead of ours, lost in the sunlit lands, Sleep on in peace, your battle-flag still waves “IME Schmitt, can T drouble you fora light?” ‘There in the sweet gulf-breeze above your graves ‘ernally. JOWM DAML wore, ONE THING AT A TIME, FLowery Firips—" Oh, Lord! I thought you said dat barkin’ dogs didn’t bite.” PURLING Brooks—* Well, dey don't—not while dey're barkin’.” comicbooks.com