Judge — August 26, 1905 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two illustrated humorous verses titled "Zim's Rhymes for Little Folks" — children's comedy poetry rather than political satire. The top panel depicts a lazy sailor ("lubber") caught sleeping by turtle, carp, and crab sea creatures who assault him as punishment. The narrative suggests truant children who've run off to play "Red Indians and Buffalo" will similarly face consequences upon returning home. The bottom panel continues this moral lesson: after the "trio of truants" returns, their adventure ends and they're advised to abandon such wild play. Instead of wasting time with "Indians," they should focus on legitimate pursuits — humorously suggesting they seek "the cigar sign outside the window pane." The satire appears directed at children's misbehavior and romanticization of frontier adventure rather than at political figures. The work reflects early 1900s attitudes toward indigenous peoples and uses them as generic tropes for "wild" or "uncivilized" play. This is children's light verse, not editorial commentary.