Judge, 1904-05-14 · page 14 of 20
Judge — May 14, 1904 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains satirical humor about literary pretension and urban scams, circa early 1900s. **"The Progress of Literature"** mocks overwrought literary self-importance: a writer pitches an article about "the man who wrote about the man who wrote his impressions of the man who was the author of the book"—absurdly recursive meta-commentary. The editor's response (assigning him a bio article) satirizes how magazines inflate minor writers. **"How Ruby Robert Was Buncoed"** depicts a con scheme in six panels: a poor man ("Ruby Robert," appearing to be working-class or vagrant) finds discarded shoes, then is tricked into leaving them unattended. A con artist steals them, leaving the victim stranded. The title reveals he's been swindled. Both segments target contemporary targets: literary pretension among aspiring writers, and urban street scams targeting the poor. The crude, satirical caricatures and dialect suggest class-based humor typical of Judge's era.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ISOLATION. HOUGH Crusoe on the isl- and Our fancy may appall, ‘The berry in the shortcake Is loncliest of all. THE PROGRESS OF LITERATURE. #¢G00D- MORNING, Mr. Slingink !" says the magazine editor, “ Have you brought your manu- script?” “Yes, sir, I have writ- ten a sterling article about the man who wrote about the man who wrote his im- pressions of the man who was the author of the book 1 Economical Ruse—* These old uns are ‘bout fallin’ ter pieces; but put ‘em in the box—we're allus needin’ scraps 0" leather round the farm."" Ruey Rosert—" Well, welll Number nines—just my size. How kind ZB THEIR PREDICAMENT. Tomstaso—* How is your club's amateur production of ‘ Hamlet’ progressing ?”* Miss Fetyne—"* Oh, excellently! white cats for the ghost.” of these jays to buy new shoes an’ leave ‘em round so handy!" de bosom uv de deep.” 5. Rusy Rosert—' Well, old leathers! here goes fer yer last voyage on But we're having some trouble getting ‘the nine Ecowomicat. Ruse (chuckling) 4. new. HOW RUBY ROBERT WAS BUNCOED. about the man who wrote the estimate of the man who wrote the story that had such a big sale.” “Good! Let me have the manuscript. Now, will you kindly go into the next room and give a few points about yourself to Mr. Spa- cer? He wants to write us an article about you for the number following the one in which your article will appear.” by, my boy, is hard work that doesn’t pay anything.” "No great risk if | leave ‘em here un- der the seat while | saunter round town a bit." Rusy Rosert—"* Here's a quiet spot, so off wid de old an’ on wid de Rusy Rosert—‘* By all de shades uv velvet, if I'm not buncoed!"* Clear sult frot Littl r “If yo hears Her custom comicbooks.com