Judge, 1904-01-09 · page 16 of 16
Judge — January 9, 1904 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1903 Judge cartoon satirizes German-American stereotypes through a four-panel narrative. "Hans Wurst" (a stereotypical German character name meaning "Hans Sausage") plays a practical joke on a musical band by serving them drinks laced with hot sauce and tobasco instead of proper refreshment. The satire hinges on ethnic caricature: Hans and other German characters speak in exaggerated, broken English with German phrases ("ven," "choost," "undt"). The joke's premise—a working-class German bartender/tradesman outwitting "fancy" musicians—reflects period class anxieties and immigrant humor. The punchline appears to be that despite Hans's trick, the band recovers and toasts his health anyway, suggesting good-natured resilience. The title ironically implies the musicians achieved their goal (performing) despite the disruption. This type of ethnic humor was mainstream magazine fare in early 1900s America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1 2. Hans—“' Say, musickers, ven you gits blayed oud mit dot piece koom in und I fix you somedings Chorus oF annists—"Ach! Hans Wurst is a fine feller, undt such a fancy mixer!" varm for der shtomicks."” 4. Mrs. Hans—"* Vat's der madder Hans?"’ Tusa artist—" Hans Wurst make foolishness mit us by dot bler undt tobasco sauces, but I dink Hans—"' Ach! I choost fool dot bum band mita hodt trink ohf tobasco sauces— but dot ain'd vot's 1 got somedings in my horn to vash it down yet. Hurry up undt trink to der health ohf Hans Wurst. der madder. d's vhere didt dot keg ohf beer vent to | choost tapped yet ?”" May he leef long und brosper!"* COPYRIGHT 1903 BY JUDGE COMPANY OF NEW YORK. THE BAND GOT THERE JUST THE SAME. Sackett 8 Waelars Litho & Pg (o New York comicbooks.com