Judge, 1902-11-15 · page 10 of 16
Judge — November 15, 1902 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic satirizes fortune-telling and romantic deception. A character called "Cholly" disguises himself as a fortune teller to win over "Miss Peachygirl," who dismisses her actual suitor as a "soft-headed fool" and "common counter-jumper." The joke relies on class snobbery: Miss Peachygirl rejects the young man's genuine affection and modest prospects (no automobile, no steam yacht, no Paris gowns). But when the disguised Cholly promises lavish gifts, she remains unimpressed—until the final panel reveals she'll marry him anyway, having recognized him "the moment I saw you." The satire targets both superficial materialism and the pretense of romance. The subtitle suggests Cholly's humble appearance masked his actual worthiness, while mocking the notion that a "church-fair romance" (modest, wholesome) trumps mercenary calculations. The humor hinges on assumptions about gender, class, and courtship rituals of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2, Cnouty—" My disguise is perfect: no one knows my identity. Now, Cnouty (gruffly\—' Ah, your palm tells me that there is a light-haired when Miss Peachygirl comes in to have her palm read we'll see how | win young man who loves you dearly.” her.”” Miss Peacnycir.—"*A lot of good it does him!" ' 3. 4 Cotty—"' If you marry him you'll have an automobile.” Cwotty—"" And he will work hard and buy you a steam yacht "—— Miss Peaciycint—" What! that soft-headed fool ?”” Miss Peacuyairi—*Ha, ha! That cheap. common counter-jumper ?"" 5. 6. Cottr—“ And a new hat every week, and lots of Paris gowns ""—— : Miss Pracuyoimu—"What! marry that homely Willie-bey > Miss Peacuvoirt—" Certainly I'll marry you, you foolish dear! 1 knew Chotty—" Er—er—yes: and" you the moment I saw you. CHOLLY LOOKED LIKE A LOSER, BUT HE WON OUT—A CHURCH-FAIR ROMANCE, comicbooks.com