Judge, 1903-12-12 · page 6 of 16
Judge — December 12, 1903 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains early 20th-century satirical humor relying heavily on racial stereotypes now considered offensive. **"Reverend Si Slopper's Bulletin"** mocks African American Southern church life through exaggerated dialect, depicting a pastor primarily concerned with fundraising and material self-interest rather than spiritual matters. **"The Right Course"** jokes about a college student choosing pharmacy over farming—a commentary on changing rural/urban economic patterns. **"The Bible Truth"** uses the proverb "a leopard can't change his spots" to suggest inherent, unchangeable character traits (likely a racial reference). **"Not Looking for Trouble"** features an Irish immigrant (indicated by dialect) in a courtroom, portrayed as combative and unreliable—reflecting anti-Irish prejudice common to the era. **"Impossible" and other brief jokes** mock artists and nervous stutterers. The page demonstrates how Judge used ethnic and racial caricature as standard satirical currency. Modern readers should recognize these reflect period prejudices, not contemporary standards.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REVEREND SI SLOPPER’S BULLETIN. R will be a quiltin’ pahty Convuts cum on Wens'd'y ebenin’ ‘At Miss Yokum's Monday night Wid deir weekly sacerfice ; Fo! ter stabt de ‘scripshun papah 'Membah dat de pastah need it Fo! de pastah’s yeably fight. When he cut de debil’s ice. Doan’ fo'git de weekly meetin’ ‘Thusd'y night de pickaninnies Ob de amen-co'nah set ; Christen'd by deir rightful names. Reckomembah dat yo'r pastah Dar should be sum conterbushuns Got ter rise dat mawgedge debt. _Fo’ de pastah’s chillun’s games. Raffle-pahty git togeddah Friday night de ole folk gaddah Eb'ry Choosday night at eight; Fo’ ter ‘range "bout buyin’ wood Any offerin’s dat yo’ min’ ter Fo’ de chu'ch an’ fo' de pahs'nage May be left at pastah’s gate. An’ de pastah’s gen'ral good. Sat'd'y night de chu’ch-choir 'sembles— Tune yo'r voice ter sing de praise When de ushers Sunday mawnin’ Shoves de plates ter maik a raise. ‘THE RIGHT COURSE, Gy—" Be thet son o' yourn at college goin’ ter be a farmer when he gits through ?” Josh—\ "low he be. He's takin’ the pharmacy course.” IMPOSSIBLE. “Can you spare a poor man a cent?” “No; I'm an artist.” ITS MANIFESTATIONS EXPLAINED. 66 A SO'THE'N gentleman's feelin fo' his hon- ah, suh, is bo'n in him. He gets it from his ancestahs, suh.” “ Traditional, colonel, so to speak ?" “Yes, suh ; pu'ly traditional, suh.” A GREAT ESSENTIAL TO SPEED. Flewent— 1 don't know what ails me lately that I stammer si Mrs. Flewent— W's because you talk so THE BIBLE TRUTH. fast.” Zewra—' Say, move over and let me have that spot under the green bay-tree, will you?” . Leorano—" What a foolish wish from one of your stripe! Don't you know a leopard can't Flewent (disgustedly)—" Talk so fast? change his spots?"” can't even start.” NOT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. Juvce—'* The lawyer for the plaintiff will now cross-examine the witness."’ @ rvess—" Shure, Oi'm not here lukkin' fer thrubble; an’, phwat's more, Oi'm here agin me will, an’ Ot'll hov no examination thot {s not a pleasint wan.”* comicbooks.com