Judge, 1902-12-20 · page 34 of 52
Judge — December 20, 1902 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humor page mixing short jokes, comic scenarios, and satirical quips typical of Judge magazine's format. Key elements: **"A Christmas Wish"** uses dialect humor common to the era, depicting an African American character's modest holiday desires—a common (if problematic) comedic trope of the period. **"Rural Dissipations"** and **"A Desperate Situation"** present rural/urban class contrasts—rural figures gaining pretensions, urban men trapped by gift-giving obligations to multiple women (wife, "typewriter girl"). **"Couldn't Be Done"** satirizes China's modernization struggles, with an emperor unable to afford horses while being advised to "mobilize" his army—likely referencing early-1900s Sino-Western tensions. **"The Secret of His Success"** mocks historical novelists as bluffers rather than scholars. The **numbered illustrations** (1-5) show physical comedy—chasing, falling, struggling—common visual gags of the period. Overall, this reflects Judge's satirical focus on social pretension, class anxiety, and international affairs circa 1902.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A CHRISTMAS WISH. RISMUS am a-comin’, and I hope de tree What am gently wavin’ somewhar roun’ fer me Will hab cn its branches, not a pile ob tings What makes tittle chillun happy till dey sings. But I hope ter ‘scover on de tree dat ben's, ‘Twenty-seben possums an’ twenty-seben hens. RURAL DISSIPATIONS. A MONEYED BUSINESS. Hiram—vJake'sgittin’ +6 ELL, Benny, what'do you intend purty badly stuck-up lately. to be when you grow to be a This old neck o' the woods man?” asked Mr. Twynn of Benny hain't hardly good enough _Bloobumper. fer him. Why, the feller intend to be a philanthropist,” actually hitches up an’ rides replied Benny. «They always have in his buggy when he goes _ plenty of money.” ter git the cows in the evenin’ !" Silas— You don't tell! Nex’ thing he'll be takin’ a daily paper, COULDN'T BE DONE. b’gosh 1" S4YOU ought to mobilize your army,” A DESPERATE SITUATION. said the foreign adviser to the Burdock—“ What are you wearing red flannel around your throat emperor of China. for? Is it sore?” * Automobilize it ?” replied the em- Baxter—“No. My wife has given mea necktie that I don't dare peror, who dearly loves a merry jest. wear at business, and my typewriter girl another that I don’t dare “Great Scott! man, I can’t even afford wear either at business or at home !” to buy horses for it.” 1. Oh, ‘THOSE people across the way must be getting poorer all the time.” “ What makes you think that ?” “ Why, I see their stock of «logs is steadily increasing.” Trickle down, oh candy, From the stocking high, And you'll see this dandy Catch it on the fly. THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS. Bramble— Jones, the historical novelist, was a classmate of mine at college.” Thorne— He was a diligent student of history, 1 suppose?” Bramble—No; but he always managed to make the pro- fessor believe he was.” INELIGIBLE, Mrs, Newstyle—Why in the world wouldn't they let you into the + mothers’ meeting *?” Mrs, Oldstyle— Vhad my baby with me.” PROBABLY, + Ours was a secret engagement.” + Is that why the girl didn’t keep it 2” Jaggles— “A Chinese play lasts about two weeks.” Waggles— “1 suppose the actors are al- ways losing * q I'll have a lot of presents if on my Christmas tree their queues.” 5. “Help! 1 find to-morrow morning the things that now | see. COPYRIGHT 1902 BY JUDGE COMPANY OF NEW YORK. ‘Sacken 8 Witheins Liha & Pig (o Rew York. comicbooks.com