Judge, 1902-11-29 · page 12 of 20
Judge — November 29, 1902 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page satirizes **Thanksgiving and American politics circa the early 1900s**. The main poem mocks how turkeys strut proudly, unaware they're destined for the holiday table—a metaphor for political figures enjoying temporary prominence before inevitable downfall. The eagle (symbolizing American freedom/the presidency) weeps because he's been sidelined: for "ninety days he's mud—/ A 'has-been' and an 'also-ran.'" This likely references a president losing power or influence. The cartoons below offer domestic humor: one shows children carving a turkey where only the least desirable "neck or nothing" remains for father—commenting on family hierarchy and scarcity. Another depicts mice debating whether to starve in a church basement or join a Christian Science church (mocking that religious sect's denial of material hardship). The "November" poem sentimentally mourns turkeys' deaths as autumn approaches, treating their fate as tragic. **Overall theme**: Political power is fleeting; even grand figures face sudden irrelevance, much like celebrated turkeys facing slaughter.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HAT makes the turkey-gobbler strut, What makes him drag his wings, As he goes out on dress-parade For corn and worms and things? Why does he gobble all day long? ‘What makes his gills so red? Why does he look like some big bos= And carry high his head? Because he knows the president Intends to have him call, And ev'ry gov'nor in the land Will want him late this fall. Beef may be high, the coal-bin dry And plum-duff hard to get ; But ev'rybody ’s bound to have Some turkey brown, you bet! The eagle gets right off his perch, And with his handker-chief From his gaunt talons wipes the tears _ He drops in all his grief. Because he knows that he's not For ninety days he’s mud— A has-been" and an ‘also-ran,”” == Likewise a d. s. thud. A PREDICAMENT. Tine Toumie—"' De question ts, would it be safer to yank him loose or leave The turkey drives the eagle off him there. Old Freedom's mountain height SMALL CHOICE. ‘And gilds with gustatory gold FATHER had carved the turkey and had given the drum-sticks to two of The broad-gauge appetite. the children, the thighs to two more, the wings to his old-maid sisters, the white meat to mother and some of the other guests, the back to Uncle Bitl, who took what he could get and murmured not, like a true philoso- pher ; then father looked at the platter and mused, “The situation grows desperate.” He turned the remnants over and over and went on, ‘It seems to be neck or nothing with me.” NOVEMBER, ‘THE melancholy days have come. The flowers fade away ; The crickets upward tum their toes, And carly dies the day. ‘The mourning turkeys now are led To death, and worse, perhaps ; ‘The partridges, with muffled drums, Are sadly sounding taps. MC LANDBUEGH WILSON. j | | i ii Mic Hay Uy gel Ate MN yh LEZ IMAM Qe Mtl] | i f i | Wh | ‘THE ONLY RELIEF. | Mr. Mouse—" Maud, it's one of two things—elther starve in this poverty-strickt 5 whe | aise etn oe ot es Meee in poverty-stricken church-basement, or go over to that new Christian-science church,where comicbooks.com