Judge, 1903-12-19 · page 20 of 52
Judge — December 19, 1903 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple Christmas-themed satirical pieces from the early 1900s. The main cartoon "Took Them at Their Word" depicts Santa Claus unable to deliver a gift: the **vice-presidential nomination**. Politicians had publicly stated they didn't want it, so Santa takes them literally—the joke being that no one actually wanted the vice presidency, a position considered powerless and undesirable at the time. The other brief satirical jokes mock Christmas gift-giving: a father misunderstands a dollar's value; newlyweds struggle with apartment living; a husband accidentally gives his wife a gift meant for his typewriter; and a deacon questions whether a singing couple's hearts are truly in religious devotion. The bottom photograph shows "Heart to Heart"—a church or wedding scene with performers, illustrating themes of marriage and morality. Overall, the page satirizes American social attitudes toward politics, materialism, and domestic life during the Christmas season.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TOOK THEM AT THEIR WORD. AT LAST Santa Claus had finished his an- nual trip. Contrary to his usual aspect of jovial cheer, there was an expression of de- jection and disappointment on his face. "One present left this time,” he said sally, “ Us. ally I get rid of them all, but this one nobody seemed to want. At least, ev where [went that was the word | got.” Jerking the reins, he drove north, with the vice- presidential nomination resting in the bottom of nis sleigh. And ten thousand politicians the next morn- ing turned their stock- ings inside out and gazed blankly at their empti- ness, wondering why it was that Santa Claus couldn't take a joke. Farner: Davcurer—" Well, he'll know the value of ninety-eight cents when he gets my Christmas Present.” ~/s —_, . FULL VALUE. “1 don't think your fiancé knows the value of a doi HEART TO HEART. (Witfred's Diseaery. HEN Wilfred got bis flannel dog, With sawdust stuffed so crude, He broke its litue leg somehow. Said he, « wow Is full of breakfastefuod."* THE ONLY WAY. Faggles — How do you manage to have a Christmas-tree if you live in a flat Waggles—" All the tenants chipped in and we have one on the co-opera- plan down in the cel- VEXATIOUS. Flykyns —" Why was she surprised at the Christ- mas present her husband gave her ?” slykyns—" He made a mistake and handed her the one he bought for his type- writer.” Deacon Hamm—" Ob cose dis couple is singin’ de hymns all right, but I m kind ob s‘picious as to wedder deir hearts are In de Lawd's wo k or not!” comicbooks.com