Judge, 1904-02-27 · page 7 of 16
Judge — February 27, 1904 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the commercialization of theater. The opening poem mockingly credits every production element to vendors and suppliers (costumes to "Slave & Toil," furniture to "Hardwood, Inc."), suggesting that modern plays are corporate assemblies rather than artistic creations. The punchline—"Nobody knows who wrote the play"—captures the satire's core: artistic authorship is obscured by commercial interests. The remaining items are unrelated humor pieces: a joke about a wealthy man named Cyrus who can't afford to loan money despite boasting of wealth; a poem about a rare truthful signpost; Irish-dialect jokes about weddings and character flaws. The bottom comic strip "Frayed Fagin and the Yeast-Cakes" appears to be slapstick humor involving someone expanding from yeast consumption. The overall page reflects Judge's satirical commentary on Gilded Age commercialism infiltrating cultural institutions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘THE MODERN PRODUCTION. REATEST production of the age! (Scenery by Paint & Oil). The best thing now upon the stage (Costumes by Messrs. Slave & Toil). The interest is well sustained (Shoes and stockings by Calf & Heel). And not a situation strained (Ormaments by Graband Steele). A dlever plot, that’s well worked out (Hats and gloves by Dressumwell). ‘This is the play you hear about (Jewels by Biffany & Swell). Refused a duke, the gossips say (Rugs and curtains by Just Think). Lyrics by Reginald de Song (Asbestos curtain by Burnemdown). Calcium lights by Sputterlong (Swords by Slash & Doembrown). Souvenirs by Print & Snap (Ruffs and cuffs by Linen Co.). Flowers by Holdup, Charge & Scrap (Chinaware by Li Hung Chow). ‘This is the play to open your eyes (Note what the daily papers say). A353 Mines | New Yorn ‘The star takes radium-baths cach day Critiques by Manager Ver. Y. Wi (Furniture by Hardwood, Tnc.). (Nobody knows who wrote the play). JACK APPLETON. HIS WAY OF BORROWING. CYRUS was boasting that he could remember the name of every soldier in his army. «It's quite simple,” he explained, «1 never borrowed money from any of them.” Hastily dodging an officious tax-collector, he withdrew to ask his wife for the loan of a quarter. ealtyude: ‘Mi! - THE FORCE OF PARALLEL EXPERIENCE. Ricanoo—“ Egad! | never appreciated that ‘ Sind bad-the-Sailor’ tale until within the last half-hour.”* ONE TRUTHFUL GUIDEBOARD. THE guideboard—standing up, it often les And lying stands. Thus ‘twas a great surprise When once, in halcyon days of youth, Tsaw upon a guidcboard, lo! the truth. Its language was the cause of several smiles. ‘Twas this: “To Oskaloosa several miles." OF COURSE. 66] HEAR th' widdy O'Flynn has married Mar- tin Mahoney at lasht,” said Mr. O"Tunder. “Vis,” replied Mr. O'Toole. “They wor married lasht Choosday.” “ An’ phwere are they now 2” “ Shure, Katie told me this marnin’ thot they hov gone away fer their Mahoneymoon.”* ‘ CHIPPED TOO OFTEN. “ An’ how manny ‘chips av th’ ould block" has McCarty 2" “Shure, McCarty ‘s bin chipped so often he looks lolke a choppin’-block.” 5. —Gittin’ fuller! — ——Oh, gee! I’m risin'! — —"Tain't my fault, mum. Yer shouldn't leave dem yeast-cakes round ter be eat." FRAYED FAGIN AND THE YEAST-CAKES. comicbooks.com