Judge, 1901-07-27 · page 6 of 16
Judge — July 27, 1901 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page satirizes American involvement in the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) and colonial administration. The cartoons mock: **Colonial exploitation**: Filipinos are depicted as naive, being swindled by Americans (the "gold brick" scam). The title "Introducing American Civilization" is ironic—Americans bring not progress but corruption. **Military inefficiency**: Jokes about civil-service exams, officers outnumbering enlisted men, and scandals at Manila criticize American military management in the Philippines. **Language barrier humor**: Filipinos learning English from Americans creates absurd misunderstandings—mixing military slang with broken English for comic effect. **Wet season flooding**: Opens the piece, establishing the harsh conditions of colonial life in Luzon. The satire targets American imperialist claims about "civilizing" the Philippines, suggesting instead that Americans are merely profiteering scoundrels. The overall tone is cynical about U.S. colonial mission legitimacy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FRESH FROM THE PHILIPPINES. WET SEASON IN LUZON. Mrs, Miguel Torres (gazing out of her bam- boo shack at the surrounding flood)—"I do hope the water will subside enough by evening to allow me to wear. my new American shirt-waist.” INTRODUCING AMERICAN CIVILIZATION. First Filipino — Juan, these Americans are surely a benefit to the Filipino race. Look at what they have done for us since their coming.” Second Filipino “Right you are, An- draes! Less than half an hour ago I bought this solid gold brick I hold in my hand from an Americano for only a thou- sand pesos.” KENTUCKY AD PHILIPPINES Teacher — Can any of you tell me what Americans the peo- ple of our new Filipino posses- sions most resemble?” Johnny—"* Kentuckians.” In what respect ?” “Both have dry and wet sea- CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS AT MANILA, Member of examining board—" Do you consider that you are physically qualified for the position of mail-carrier?” Applicant— Lwas with Aguinaldo dur- I his campaign in search of hiding- OUR ARMY GAINING IMPORTANCE, First American citizen: over the high place our forces “1am elated the Philip- HAD HIM RIGHT. KIY—"' Does your husband ever forget to kiss you before going to work mornings?” Mrs, StRONGMIND—"* Not much he don’t! ways has to ask me for ten cents car-fare.” pines are taking for our army among the armies of the world.” itizen—" Why, I was of the opinion that the Filipino trouble ended long ago.” First American citizen —" Yes; but have you noted the many recent scandals at Manila?” anpual * inspection) —" Pri- vate Maloney, where is your canteen 3” Private Maloney— Sor, do yez be afther fergit- tin’ th’ new anti-can- teen bill?” WHY THE CAUSE Lost. Juan de la Cruz—" Do you realize fully why the Filipino cause was lost ?” Salmon Gome: haps not fully.” Juan de la Cruz—" Well, sir, there were so many officers in our army that there were no privates to do the fighting.” was Per- ENGLISH AS SHE 1S TAUGHT BY AMERICANOS, First native—* What was the trouble between you and the Englishman?” Second native—" Why, after me ap- plying myself with earnestness to learn the English language from the Americans, that bewhiskered subject of King Edward pre- tended he didn’t know what I meant when T told him that I lost my left lamp and right wing at Bamban, and that I was near locoed with joy because the little plug from Kansas had copped the mainspring of the gugus and thereby made no more mixin’-in He al- acinch.” JOMs J. RILEY, NOT AN AL “ROUND IMPLEME Peppixr—"' Let me sell you one of these nice light-wire potato-mashers.”” Whoy, if Oi'd trow dat at Moike he'd niver notice it more than if it wor a floy,” Mus, O'Gravy—" Potaty-masher? comicbooks.com