Judge, 1903-07-04 · page 10 of 16
Judge — July 4, 1903 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page contains multiple satirical items about Independence Day and American life: **"Fourth of July" (poem)**: The opening poem satirizes firecracker safety by presenting a cynical narrator who profits from fireworks sales. He celebrates the holiday's "tumult and roar" while dismissing children's injuries ("What matters it one scar the less or more") and medical bills—revealing his self-interested hypocrisy. Nathan S. M. Levy is identified as "king of all the fire-cracker trade." **Supporting cartoons**: "Freddy's Conclusion" jokes about dangerous firecrackers containing dynamite. Other items mock holiday clichés ("It Sometimes Happens") and social pretensions. **The broader satire**: The page critiques both holiday recklessness and commercialism—manufacturers profiting while children are injured. It also satirizes class anxieties and social climbing ("He Succeeded," "The Difference"), with the final cartoon distinguishing between a gentleman and a proprietor as commentary on nouveau riche pretension. The content reflects turn-of-century concerns about unregulated consumer products and children's safety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FOURTH OF JULY. J] FEEL great love for independence day ; 1 like the noise, the tumult and the roar (In sooth, these things are what the Fourth is for}. What if an eye is damaged by the way? What if the small boy saunters forth to slay And comes back home with cuts and wounds galore? What matters it one scar the less or more ; One doctor's bill the more or less to pay? Indeed, upon the glorious Fourth I dote ; It makes me happy as the high-tide clam. T hope the day's traditions ne'er will fade. I grow so glad and buoyant as T note The whole land celebrate, because I am ‘The king of all the fire-cracker trade, NATHAN SM, LEVYS FREDDY’S CONCLUSION. LITTLE FRED said he burned his fingers because his fire- crackers had darnamite in them. THE REAL STUFF. Maccie—" Is dat a love-story yer readin’? Cuimmie—"* Betcher life tt isi Dere's a murder in every chapter." = . STRONG EVIDENCE. 6+ BUT.” protests the manager of the matrimonial agency, «I don’t see why you accuse me of being a bunco-steerer. You haven't found any green-goods circulars among my papers.” “T haven't?" asks the astute detective. “How about all those catalogue-lists of grass-widows ?” IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS. Hoe’ often, on the gladsome Fourth, We take the train to mount or sea, Intent upon enjoying all The celebrating there can be— And later find the folks at home Had a much better time than we. PARADOXICAL, Landlord (of Pettyville tavern)—« I s’pose it cost ye about . ; three dollars to drive over from Allegash to see the fireworks ?” aug EAMETION"'S0 Shad thought he'd get into society by coming to the seashore, Washing-machine agent_-» Nor I hited a balky horse and Bass—"" Why, yes. They had him for dinner at the Moneybags’ the first day." beat my way.” HE SUCCEEDED. a NEE THE DIFFERENCE. “ Lwant to see the proprietor. Is the gentleman In?” “Yes, I'm In.” ** Are you the proprietor?” “No; I'm the gentleman. The proprietor is in the back room."” comicbooks.com