Judge, 1901-11-09 · page 3 of 16
Judge — November 9, 1901 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the struggles of an overweight man named John Podge, who is repeatedly advised to lose weight. The cartoon mocks his resistance to diet advice—friends suggest egg diets and other remedies, but John dismisses them. One friend notes John ate "sixteen snake eggs" without result, leading John to complain that eggs "don't take off fat" and function "like a serum." The humor targets both obesity itself and the era's obsession with weight-loss fads and amateur medical advice. Other cartoons on the page ("What's in a Name?", "A Doubtful Compliment") offer unrelated humor about naming conventions and social awkwardness. The overall tone is light satirical commentary on vanity and bodily concerns rather than serious social critique.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A FAT MAN'S TRIALS. 66 "AT" was a most inadequate term to apply to John Podg- kins. He was monstrous ! He was elephantine! And the worst of it was that he would much have preferred to be slim and dapper. All John’s friends knew how dissatisfied he was with his proportions, and were constantly suggesting means by which he could reduce his weight. * How are you, John?” asked an acquaintance who met him one day rolling down Black a cena . ‘ ‘ BETTER OFF WHERE HE WAS. s usual,” was the reply, Oud Turk—" You bet w wn, Since when did you become a lineman?” “ By the way,” said his friend, #1 have just heard that an egg diet, if persisted in, will cure the Buseres—(disgustedly)—Lineman! See ee iysuknowen Worst case of obesity in a few weeks.” automobilist when you see one?” “ Eggs !" exclaimed John in a tone of contempt. “They're no good. I've given them a fair trial, For three weeks I've eaten nothing else; and look at me !" “Is that so?" responded his friend in surprise. «How many do you eat ata * said John, con- this morning | ate sixteen snake eggs, and it they don’t take off fat they are like a serum and keep off dik. FORGOT WHERE HE PUT IT. Smith —“ Do you think memory systems have any value WHAT'S IN A NAME? fones—Yes. 1 studied Wittie—* Pardon me mum, but could you tell a couple of fs ” one once and did very well tourist gents de name of yer beautiful town ?’ —Bath Beach. ey oe Woman—" Yes, this is— until [ mislaid the manual. Se ete A DOUBTFUL COMPLIMENT. Provorop—** Don't you think my little son favors me somewhat?” Cano Frieso—"'He certainly looks like you, but do you consider that a favor 2” comicbooks.com