Judge, 1903-02-28 · page 6 of 16
Judge — February 28, 1903 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine features multiple satirical cartoons mocking American life and character: **"Bliggers's Latest"** ridicules inventor culture and consumer gullibility. Hiram K. Bliggers presents an absurdly impractical multi-purpose contraption (snow-sweeper/lawn-mower/clothes-line/baby-jumper/dish-pan/window-washer), satirizing both inventors' grandiose claims and neighbors' eagerness to borrow gadgets. **"Looking Backward"** uses chimpanzees as caricatures of humans, with the female ape mocking the male for his foolish proposal—a crude joke about courtship and regret. **Rural/Urban humor** sections mock country visitors in New York ("rubberin'") and portray Uncle Silas as a cheapskate requesting anesthesia to avoid paying for photography. **"Another Myth"** and other sections present humorous takes on lying and dishonesty. The recurring Washington cherry-tree reference alludes to the apocryphal young George Washington story about confessing to cutting down a tree—here inverted to expose that confession itself may be false. Overall: early 20th-century satire targeting inventors, class differences, rural stereotypes, and American character.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
BLIGGERS'S LATEST. HE famous inventor, Hiram K. Bliggers, sits in his studio, a sheet of blue prints spread before him, “L have here, he declares, “the greatest invention of modern times, It is destined to send my name ringing down the ages like the clang of the gong on the last owl-car.” + What is it this Hiram?" we « Here it is,” he answers, whirling the blue prints toward us. “What may it be—a carpet- sweeper ?” “No, sir. That is the gen- eral outline and cross-section of a LOOKING BACKWARD. combination snow -sweeper and Mr. Cuim-Panzee (in the background)—'* How foolish he locks!"" lawn-mower. In addition to that, Mrs. Cnint-Panzee—" Yes. Now's your chance to see how you looked when you propesed to me." I have devised a subsidiary at- tachment which may be used in summer as a lawn-hose and in winter WASN'T GIVING HIMSELF AWAY. asa clothes-line in the cellar. And since’ you spoke of a carpet-sweep- Aunt Geehaw (visiting New York)—" Don't look round at the people so much, Joshuway, or they'll think you're from the country an’ say ‘rubber’ to you.” Uncle Gechaw (with dignityy—"Gilong! 1 ain't rubberin’ at them half so much as they're rubberin’ at you an’ me.” N JUDGE OWL'S court the dish and spoon Swore an oath of monstrous size ‘That they'd see jump over the moon While wateh Judge Owl pooh-poohed their si And vowed them worse for d Which made the silver spec And the china dish look + Can ye swear ye were ) your sterling soul?” Said the judge, “on an oath all wool?” ‘Then the spoon confessed that he had a bowl And the dish was about half fall, TRUMAN KOBKKTS ANDEEWS, IT COES NOT SAY AU REVOIR. Grymes—* You bet your life money talk DID HE TELL THE TRUTH? UVkerdek—" What did it ever say to you? 1, Lire Georoe—"* Thy favorite cherry-tree, father? Why, I chopped it with my little hatchet."* Grymes—«* Tag.’ ” er, I believe I see a way in which I can combine the two inventions so that they may fot only be used for that purpose, but will form a splendid baby-jumper.” “But,” we object, “is there any great popu- lar demand for such a thing ?” * Most assuredly there is “Not in any home that we know of,” we assert. « But think,” urges Hiram, * of the joy with which this will be hailed by borrowing neighbors. At one visit they can combine four errands !" And he takes up his compasses and rulers and resumes his labors, having received an in- spiration which convinces him that he can twist the thing also into a further combination of dish- pan and window.washer, PAINLESS. Photographer—* How do you wish to be photographed Uncle Silas—"\ reckon J] take gas, ef ye (lon’t charge extry,” 2. Pater Wasnincron—"'I can pardon a grievance, my son, but | gan't a liar, You never chopped Gown that tree with that five-cent-store hatchet.” comicbooks.com