Judge, 1902-05-10 · page 5 of 20
Judge — May 10, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* contains several brief satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **"Overheard in the Garden"** mocks overly cautious people through personified plants—a peach tree refuses to predict its harvest, representing someone who won't commit to claims. **"A Lucky Town"** jokes that a town is fortunate because its oldest resident is deaf-mute, implying elderly people are tediously talkative. **"France is a Republic"** satirizes social climbers: a man named Ferdy seeks to prove French nobleman ancestry, but the joke suggests his family line has lost respectability ("the bottom's dropped out"). **"Cleaned Out"** is a pun: kerosene cleans things, but investors have been "cleaned out" (financially ruined) in kerosene-oil ventures—likely referencing speculative stock bubbles. The remaining pieces mock absent-mindedness and pretension in Boston society and theater culture. These represent genteel humor aimed at *Judge's* educated readership, emphasizing social follies rather than political content.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IN THE SPRING. spring the pensive Peeps its pretty purplish peeps; In the spring the caterpillar Up your spinal column creeps. In the spring the morning-glory Capers up the garden-shat Jn the spring a young maid’s fancy Lightly turns to thoughts of ha OVERHEARD IN THE GARDEN. seYOU are covered with the most delicate and beautiful of Mowers," re- marked the zooseberry-bush to the peach-tree that was fluttering in the haleyon hiss of the chaste auroral vephyr; but do you think the peach-erop will be failure this year st would be impossi- ble to say twothfully,” ree plied the blossom -draped peach-tree, “because 1am very matte! act and ale ways consider it unwise to speak confidently at so early a stage of the game. In other words, | never count my peaches before they are canned.” A LUCKY TOWN, Sanso— Lonelyville is a lucky town.” Rodd — Why 2” Sanso— Its oldest in- habitant is a deaf-mute.” FRANCE IS A REPUBLIC, YOU KNOW. * Ferdy thinks he is descended from a French nobleman, and he is determined to get to the bottom of the matter." “Oh, it would be no use. The bottom ‘s dropped out of that line of stock, you CLEANED OUT. ‘They say kerosene-oil is a great cleanser."" Yes. Many an investor has been cleaned out in kercsene-oll."" IN BOSTON. TH was delighted with her aunt's new change able spring gown, + Oh, mamma "sh claimed excitedly, the ors of Aunt Mary’s new silk dress are all extemporane- ous.” ALMOST READY. SOYVJELL, Hetty,” said Ww Unele Bill, « Treck on you have written your graduating essay and. are ly to say good-bye “Lam almost ready, Unele William,” replied Harryette, “1 have selected the material for my gradu. ating dress, and as soon as Lean decide whether to car- ry a bouquet in my hand or wear it, in my corsage 1 shall give some attention to the other trilles of the vec sion,” EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE. Dinwiddle — Where shall T find the spring un- derelothes 2" Department-store floorsvatker—“ Two aisles to the left, right next to the cough-cure and patent-med- icine counter.” FORCE OF HABIT. let “Give me i arber —“ Dery or wet? Actor— Egy.” comicbooks.com