Judge — August 8, 1903 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Live Watermelons" by W.D. Nesbitt This is a humorous rural story, not political satire. It depicts a camp-meeting scene where boys steal watermelons from a patch. The narrative describes old man Fosdyke's unsuccessful attempts to protect his melon crop using increasingly elaborate schemes—including painted shoats (young pigs) and other deterrents—all thwarted by clever boys who repeatedly raid the patch at night. The illustrations show physical comedy: boys being chased, falling, and escaping with melons. The title likely refers to the watermelons' vitality or the lively chaos surrounding them. This represents turn-of-the-century rural Americana humor, common in Judge magazine, featuring typical characters (country folk, mischievous boys) in slapstick situations with no apparent political or social commentary.