Judge, 1908-06-20 · page 28 of 28
Judge — June 20, 1908 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **commercial advertisement** disguised as satirical content in Judge magazine. The "General Wright" is a fictional character created to promote Waterman's "Ideal" fountain pens through elaborate wordplay and mock-heroic verse. The satire works by presenting the pen's features (clip-cap, iridium-tipped nib, rubber components from Peru, "Spoon Feed" mechanism) as though General Wright were a real military or political statesman announcing his virtues. Phrases like "Standard of Quality," "moral inciters," and settling "disputes between fighters" humorously anthropomorphize the pen's practical qualities. The illustration shows a mustachioed general in military dress posing with an oversized fountain pen near the Capitol building, emphasizing the pen's importance and prestige. The joke relies on treating commercial attributes with exaggerated political gravitas—a common advertising strategy of the era that exploited Judge's satirical format to sell products while entertaining readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4+ » GENERAL WRIGHT» ok A STATESMAN is General Wright, As stalwart for peace as for fight ; r He announces his cause In aid of all laws, While he puts groundless panic to flight. He’s the greatest of moral inciters ; Always settles disputes between fighters. The cause of his rank Is because he is frank, And presents only facts between writers. “ My ‘ Standard of Quality’ claim,” 5 é | | Says he, “‘is the cause of my fame; k i For the standard I hold 1 =o | Has a point of fine gold, And adds to the praise of my name!” . | From far-off Peruvian ground, Where all the best rubber is found, The substance is brought From which there is wrought yx His uniform, simple and sound. jAnd he claims, with a modest inflection, ** My holder, my cap, and my section, As well as my nib, A Clip-Cape add to peice, 28¢. % Satisfaction must give, For my Spoon Feed works quite to perfection.” x The Clip-cap to all will appeal— It’s the General’s watch-dog at heel. In the pocket secure It is bound to procure The safety of every ‘‘ Ideal.” For years his nib may be used, As the tip is iridium fused, The world’s hardest metal, Endurance does settle, Thus writers are always amused! Yes, the General Wright, we acclaim, Is the great fountain pen known to fame; Now, buy one to-day, And remember, pray, | That Waterman's Ideal is the name ! L ; FROM THE BEST DEALERS THE WORLD OVER. SN 8 SCHOOL ST., Boston 209 STATE ST., Chicago 742 MARKET ST., San Francisco | XOi3 $0 *: \ 136 ST. JAMES ST., Mentreal 12 GOLDEN LANE, London 1 COPYRIGHT 10K RY JUDGE COMPANY. FURIMHEDS TET AVENTTR 4NN WANIROM aateer wew whew comicbooks.com