Judge, 1904-04-16 · page 6 of 16
Judge — April 16, 1904 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical vignettes typical of early 20th-century American humor: **"An Idyl of the Street"**: A woman asks a Broadway cabman if he's the driver; he cynically responds that *he's* the horse and points to the animal—mocking tourists' obliviousness and cabmen's world-weary wit. **"Ind., The Home of Lit."**: A schoolgirl answers that "Ind." (India)'s wealth consists of "book royalties," revealing she's smuggling a novel ("When Brightwood Was on Fire") to class—satire on students' priorities over actual education. **Russian autocrat joke**: References the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), with the unnamed Russian leader (likely Tsar Nicholas II) responding in incomprehensible Russian when asked about Japan strategy—mocking his indecisiveness during this military disaster. **"A Smoker's Joy"** and **"An Improvement Noted"**: Light domestic humor about marital life. **"Must Get Their Money's Worth"**: Jewish immigrants (indicated by dialect) overstay a rental boat to extract value—ethnic stereotype humor common in the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AN IDYL OF THE STREET. T WAS in Broadway at the cab-stand by Greeley square. A foolish questioner, who belonged to the great aggregation of the blind to the obvious, came by. She paused and approached a cabman on his box. , “ Are you the driver of the cab?” she asked. The cabman was cynical, as cabmen grow to be in their profession. “No, ma'am,” he responded, with a dipping motion of his bent index-finger to- ward the animal in the shafts, That's the driver; I'm the horse.” Only a seasoned cabman could have done it as he did, and the lady, with an indignant sniff, woke up. IND., THE HOME OF LIT. ‘OYE FIND here the expression, ‘All the wealth of Ormus or of Ind.,'" said the teacher.“ Of what did the wealth of Ind. consist 2” “Book royalties,” answe!-d the blond sophomoress, who had a copy of + When Brightwood Was on Fire,” concealed in her desk. HE autocrat of all the Russias was standing in moody silence by the gate of the winter palace. : “What are you going to do about the Japs ?” we inquired with the profound sym- = pathy of an old friend. Thumpeloutovem,” he replied in the difficult language of his country. Presently comprehending his A SMOKER'S JOY. reply, we wondered if he really would. WALK the quiet thoroughfare As if on breezy springs, And blow serenely in the air These flor del fumar rings. I see them slowly drift away - While I cavort in style And heave my chest in manner gay And wear a happy smile. And as my arms about me fly And in the zephyr wave They envy me the weed that I Puff on the purple pave. And yet I have a little joke While on my way I dive— ‘The flor del fumars that I smoke Are always * three for five.” AN IMPROVEMENT NOTED. Se AND how is your husband now, Mrs. Nu- bride?” A DIVIDEND. “He's better, thank you. A few, weeks ago he was terribly run down, but he's recovered Passencer—"| know, This nickel ts for the company." enough to eat health-foods again.” Conpuctor—'* I got your fare before, sir.” z CJA 30 5 oy, D a Qiu MUST GET THEIR MONEY'S WORTH. Mrs. Conen—"' Oh, Jacob! I can't hold on a minute longer.” Mr. Conen—"' You must, Repecca! Ve are paying feefty cents an hour for dis blame boat. Remember dot!" comicbooks.com