Judge, 1899-07-29 · page 5 of 16
Judge — July 29, 1899 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes aggressive commercialism intruding into solemn occasions. The main story, narrated by Farmer Hornbeak, describes a funeral where a sharp-dressed stranger (likely a traveling salesman) exploits the minister's invitation for remarks about the deceased to instead pitch maps of the United States—turning a moment of mourning into a sales opportunity. The humor targets the era's relentless "enterprising" spirit: the salesman's audacity in converting a funeral into a captive audience for commercial hawking, and his indignation when the minister refuses. It's social criticism wrapped in rural dialect—mocking both the aggressive salesman culture and the vulnerability of small communities to such exploitation. The smaller cartoons below offer lighter humor about animals and relationships, typical of the magazine's mixed-content format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EXCESSIVE ENTERPRISE. HAVE always considered enterprise to be praiseworthy an’ commendable,” remarked Farmer Hornbeak as he came in and reached behind the kitchen door for the boot-jack ; “ but jest now I'm kinder of the opinion that there are times an’ occasions when enterprise, like some other can be carried a little too far. What set ye to talkin’ about it, Ezry?" asked his good wife. * L ketched the idee over at poor, old, shiftless Bill Partlow’s funeral this afternoon. Every- body knows Bill didn’t amount to much, an’ I don’t spose anybody present at the funeral had any very deep regrets over his untimely takin’-off, as it is usually appropriate to remark. ‘The minister, havin’ jest_ moved into the community, wasn’t very well posted about local affairs, an’ after he had got off a few solemn words he ‘peared to be kinder at a loss what to say next; so he cleared his throat in what might have becn called a conservative manner an’ invited any one present who had any appropriate remarks to make to rise an’ say ‘em. Nobody stirred for a spell, an’ then a long-necked, sharp-nosed chap—stranger to us all—hopped up with a cara TOWN WORLD'S FAIR. .ONNVHL = FLOWER OF THE VeLDr, n African Cape Town, How far! and yet we meet. Of thee, the very name to me Bears something wild and sweet. ‘The gardens on the Veldt ‘Are few, and far apart: Their fowers appear thus doubly dear— ‘And that is what thou art A TRIFLE MIXED What's the matter with the Kentucky mare? She looks despondent ” Didn't you hear that her husband had run off-with a filly?" Fue cow—* In that case she’s a kind of blue blue-grass grass-widow.” comes ; self-conscious- long roll of suthin’ in his hand an’ briskly remarked that if no- body had anything to say re- gardin’ the virtues of the deceas- cd perhaps it would be jest as well to draw the veil of ambiguity over the late lamented’s record, in which cvent, if it was agree- able to all, he would like to state that he was a map-agent, an’ if the brethren an’ sisters would kindly give him their attention for a few moments he would be pleased to expatiate on the beauty an’ utility of one of the grandest maps of the great, glorious, ex- panded an’ all-conquerin’ United States of America ever offered for sale in this or any,other com- munity for a merely nominal sum. An’ he ‘peared to be con- siderably surprised an’ put out when the minister rather sharply refused to permit those present to be editied in that enterprisin’ manner.” TOM F. MORGAN, AN ACQUIREMENT, PHILOSOPHY is the alter CASSIE PCat anes teas rats comic: Papers. math of love, + Oj heard him say * Be jabers* the other day.” comicbooks.com