Judge, 1909-06-19 · page 2 of 16
Judge — June 19, 1909 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon, titled "I'll Make a Clean Job of It," depicts a figure labeled "TAMMANY" (New York's Democratic political machine) as a charlatan or con artist surrounded by cleaning supplies, holding a broom. The figure is surrounded by labels referencing various scandals: "FRAUDS," "GRAFT," "AIRCRAFT," and "CLEAN THE HOUSE!" The accompanying essay "AS TO THE BORE" discusses the Bore (likely the Hudson River Bore—a tidal phenomenon) as a metaphor for persistent, unavoidable nuisances in urban life. The text compares it to subway tunnels and other infrastructure that define city existence. The satire targets Tammany Hall's corruption, suggesting its promises of reform ("clean job") are hollow bluster, mocking the organization's ability to whitewash systemic graft.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Brunswick Building, 225 Fifth Aves New York. Cable Address, “ Judgark, ~ CHER, President. JOHN A. Si Tel, 6632 Madison Square. F. W. Schneider, Secretary. Arthur Terry, Treasurer. Westean Avvarrisina Orrice— 1136-7 Marpuetie Building, Chicage, Ut James M, Lee, Managing Editor. Subscriptions payable which areata discount in New Vor Jependencies, and Mexico, To Canadian Provinces add $1.00. year News Company, Bream's building, Chancery Lant, ypera, Part; Saaroach's News bachange, Bains, Grant E. Hamilton, Art Editor. KD WEEKLY AT 10 CUNTS 4 COPY. ds : 13s cg by draft on New York, or by express or postal order, net by lncal checks ity. The contents of FUDGE are orotected by conyrigh tn both the United States and Great CONTRIBUTORS mast tnctose a stamped and self-addressed entvelope with ail manascrDtty otherwise return of the Latter when found unavailable cannot be guaranteed. 44 JUDGE casoot be found at any eewe-stend, tbe publishers will be ander obligations If that fact be promptly reported on poatal-card or by letter. WACK NUMBERS: Present yeat, 10 cents pet copys the old CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Sob en ordering a change of address shoul de, and belore the bist copy of JUDGE will reach 908, 20 cents: 1907, 30 cer 1 as the mew address, and the ledger oumber oa thelr wrazpet. subscriber. ete rom two to three weeks most AS TO THE BORE. E MUST NOT be too hard upon the Bores, It is a grave ques- tion how far other men would appear bright if they had not the Bores for a background. Everything in this world that seems to be worth anything at all becomes so by comparison. If it were not for the day, would the night seem so dark? If it were not for the blessings of poverty, would the miseries of the rich appear so poignant and excite so much sympathy? If it were not for the beauty of Phyllis, would the plainness of Tabitha seem so distressing that even the clocks stop and hold up their hands before their faces in a ‘The Snail is none the less a model of in a race from New York to Chicago with the Twentieth Century Limited, he comes in a yard or two behind at the finish. So it is with the Bores, ‘They have their place in the community, their function in society, and the purpose they serve is auseful one. Their very existence lends luster to the brilliance of the wits. Bright and buoyantly mirthful as it unquestionably is, for example, would London Punch seem to us so spontancously ef- nt and productive of so incessant a flow of hearty laughter if sheer ecstasy of aversion? decent snailhood becaus we were not constantly dipping into the ponderous editorial col- umns of the London Thunderer ? Could we have had the Subway without the Bore? Or the Gatling Gun? Or the Hudson River Tunnel? No! The Bore serves his purpose in the great human family. His bromidic qualities enhance by contrast the sulphitic cast of the epigrams of the brilliant, and in a day of unrest like our own he has a distinct hygienic value—aye, even when as a Bore he augers most aggressively. Many a time last winter at public dinners has our weary spirit been lulled to a refreshing slumber by the ponderous dullness of the Bore Rampant, whose longevity was far in excess of his terminal facilities; and so let us not discourage him with disparagement, but rather spur him on to the attainment of a greater diameter, until the circumference of his effort becomes co-tangent with the periphery of—well, the reader knows what we mean—just give him a boost until he reaches the fullest stature of borishness. Even if you hate him because he gets on your nerves, that were the wise thing todo; for who knows but that the time will come when he has bored a hole so big that he will fall into it, and possibly pull it in after him! In the lan- guage of the Poet, let us greet him: Bee on, thou deep and dark Baotian, bore! Bore till thy borings weary us no mor: Let others make their mark their time upon, But as for thee, bore on, bore on! “I'LL MAKE A CLEAN JOB OF IT." comicbooks.com