Judge, 1899-12-09 · page 10 of 16
Judge — December 9, 1899 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains six unrelated humorous sketches typical of early 20th-century American satirical magazines: **"A Prolific Swearer"** mocks a Black man (depicted in period stereotypes) who claims he'll be a good witness because his mule has made him accustomed to swearing. **"Her Ball-Dress"** offers wordplay about women's fashion—the paradox that formal dresses expose more skin than everyday wear. **"The Ancestral Lie Again"** satirizes social pretension: a lamb and calf boast about noble ancestry, mocking those who exaggerate lineage claims. **"Answered While You Wait"** plays on contemporary geopolitics, with a child asking why England is "mother country" while Germany is "fatherland"—answered by noting England has a queen, Germany an emperor. **"The Latest Knock for the Roomers"** (bottom comics) shows landlords advertising boarding houses; the joke involves switching calendar dates to confuse tenants about payment due dates. The page reflects period humor conventions: ethnic caricature, domestic comedy, and gentle social satire about class anxieties and gender roles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A PROLIFIC SWEARER, ** What er I haf ter do ter be a witness, majah ?” “Well, suh, you must just simply tell what you know and swear to it.” “Golly, majah! I reckon I'll be a mighty good witness, “kaze since I got dat mule w'ot I calls Gladys I got ter swearin’ So powerful strong, an’ wi natchely jes’ turned me out er chu'ch.” HER BALL- DRESS. THIS paradox we find exists About a maiden’s gown ; ‘The time she thinks she is dressed up She really is dressed down. FOR INVALIDS. 46THAT must be a wagon for sick folks,” ex- claimed Beth, on seeing carriage fitted with pneu- matic tires, “cause every wheel 's got rubber-slippers on.” uage DISHEVELED. ETH was greatly interested in a weeping - willow that her father had planted, the night before, on the lawn. “Come, mamma, hurry !"" she called, as she looked from the sitting-room window, “and see this cunning little tree with its hair all down.” THE BRUTE. Mrs, Cobwigger— “Are you sure, Henry, you'll be perfectly sat- isfied to have me in the country while you stay in town?” Cobwigger—Yes, my dear. The rest will do me a world of THE ANCESTRAL LIE AGAIN. Tue Lamu —* Our family are all educated : you know we trace our ancestry back to Mary’s lamb. ‘THe CALr—" That's nothing. /'m a direct descendant of the fatted calf.” fi nice Xoqas Grier FoR OVR New Mermaip —"Oh! if he had only fallen a little harder he'd been mine.’ ANSWERED WHILE YOU WAIT. +s PAPA,” said Benny Bloobumper, “why is England called the mother country while Germany is called the fatherland ?” “ Because, my son,” re- plied Mr. Bloobumper," Eng- land is ruled by a queen and Germany by an emperor.” THE BLARNEY- STONE. OO}, BLARNEY- STONE, T pray you let Me your attractions sing ! You are the diamond that is set In the engagement-ring. COLLEGE REGIME UP TO DATE. Undergraduate—* Pro- fessor, am I to be condi- tioned ?* Professor (who has a passion for boxing)—“ Here, put on these . I beat, you ar you're not.” OUR NEW PING HOUSE CK “Yes, madam, this is our new calendar-clock with the geritle-hint attach- ment, You set it for the proper date, and now please note the change — THE LATEST’ “ KNOCK" FOR THE ROOMERS. —Ab, you'll take a dozen? Many thanks. T'll send them up right away.” the qua con the in 3 just ing comicbooks.com