Judge, 1901-10-05 · page 7 of 16
Judge — October 5, 1901 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: **"An Idyl of Inertia"** mocks a prolonged courtship. Algernon has courted Katie for years with endless romantic gestures but never proposed until finally asking her to marry him. The satire targets male procrastination and indecision in relationships—Katie's exasperation after years of delay is the joke's point. **"In Topsyturvy Land"** appears to be a racial caricature typical of period Judge content, mocking dialect speech. This reflects the magazine's unfortunately common racist humor of the era. **"A Good Western Send-Off"** and **"Willing to Oblige"** are brief visual gags about a man running toward Bridgeport—likely poking fun at either a specific public figure or simply absurd situations. The page primarily showcases Judge's formula: romantic/social satire mixed with visual humor and period racial stereotyping. The main substantive satire critiques male romantic hesitation and the strain it places on women's patience.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AN IDYL OF INERTIA. THE pale effulgence of the harvest moon fell upon the face of the earth and lighted it with a saffron smile. A nightin- gale made music in the magnificent mag- nolias on the margin of the meadow, and the air was heavy and sweet with the perfume of the flowers that gather more thickly in the crevices of the crepuscular. It was a night for lovers, and Alger- non de Lay sat with the girl of his choice on the stile leading into a field, white with daisies in the sun, now lambent in the yel- low luster of Luna, How many times they had sat there, how many times they had looked upward at that moon and down- ward: into each other's eyes, how many Dace ; times they had crooned and kissed in the IN TOPSYTURVY LAND. piazza corner where the honeysuckle grew, Warermevox—" If there's anything that makes how many times they had lingered long my mouth water, it's a nice coon.” by the firelight of Winter evenings, how : many flowers of Spring they had gathered hand in hand, how many Autumn leaves they had garnered, the rapturous Algernon was too HOULDIN’ DE FORT. entranced to estimate with any degree of accuracy; but the maiden, who was getting pretty weary of Algernon’s methods of arriving at a conclusion, was prepared to state that there must have been a million or more. He had been courting her, and courting and courting, and had not showed any guaranteed signs that he was any nearer the popping-point now than he was when he first began to take notice. There is a limit to woman's patience, even though there may be none to man’s pro- crastination, and the girl was beginning to feel the strain. On this glorious night of moonshine she had taken new hope, for the elements seemed to be conspiring to a completion of Algernon’s court- ing. She was consequently very coaxing and encour aging, and he felt the inspiration of the combine. “What would you say, Katie, dear.” he whispered audibly, though he trembled as he spoke, and was scared half out of his rapture, “what would you say if I should ask you to marry me?” ; At last, at last! and the past, with its disappointments and delu- sions, was forgotten. * Really and truly, Algie?” she murmured it reply, as her heart uttered upward toward its r * Really and truly, he felt brave and strong now. “Well,” she responded, as a brief shadow from the past forced its darkness in, * you bet I wouldn't say, ‘Oh, this is so sudden!" Then she grabbed him, and he never got away any more. witLiaMe 4, LAMFTON. TO HIS SORROW. Biggs—"Do you know any- thing about liquid air?” Boggs—* Yes; | bought some stock in the company, and I dis- covered that it’s the same thing as hot air.” A GOOD W: ERN SEND-OFF. SYRACUSE SAM (roriting to his mother in the East)— the bank, who is leaving the state.” We went to the train this afternoon to escort the president of * BRIOGE PORT Fie mues * 2, WILLING TO OBLIGE. Lapy—"* Poor fellow! If he only keeps up that gait he'll reach Bridgeport in time for supper. comicbooks.com