Judge, 1909-07-03 · page 6 of 16
Judge — July 3, 1909 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge magazine page from 1909 contains Fourth of July-themed humor. The main comic strip follows a firefly character who attempts to observe Independence Day celebrations, only to be repeatedly caught in explosive fireworks—the joke being that the insect's own bioluminescence makes it a target for the holiday's dangerous pyrotechnics. The accompanying text satirizes bachelor clubs declaring their "independence" from women and domestic life through a mock Declaration of Independence, humorously paralleling the Revolutionary holiday's language. A secondary poem jokes about children's capacity to consume sweets on July 4th, while the final panel (dated 1912) presents a gentler vision: a father notes his son celebrates quietly by cracking peanuts in the basement—suggesting societal shift toward safer, less explosive Fourth of July observances. The overall theme: American independence celebrated through noise, explosions, and youthful chaos.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A FOURTH OF JULY EPISODE. yo ee | weer “ebb what this unded thi to sizcle when 1 2. —— I'll just rest here and sec what happens. — AN INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY, “Well, bless me soul! if they ain’t at it down here, too.” secluded conclave assemt mnly publish and that we bachelors are, and of right ought to be, free and single men; that we are ab- solved from all all woman, and that all sentimental connection between ourselves and woman is, and ought to be, to- tally dissolved; and that as free and single men we have full power to frequent elubs, main- tain cozy bachelors’ quarters, act I judges at baby ve expert advice on the rearing of children, and to do such other things as free and pendent bachelors. may of right do. And to signify our determi- 3 In the name of Sam Hill what's up? Eve 1 touch burns. Ouch! my back." nation to stand by these our declarations we pledge our single lives and fortunes, and aflix hereunto our hands this Fourth Day of July, Nineteen Hundred Nine, (Signed) [Seal] Come! Louis SCHNEIDER, “ANOTHER PLATE O°” (PLATO). HE Fourth of July means cake and pie and fruit and candy sweet; There's cream pink and things to drink—just watch the children eat. Now where they stow it all away’s beyond ‘our comprehension, But scientists would probably say, ‘*They’ve found the Fourth wom kre. Who'll be the first to sign? Dimension."" THE SOFTENED FOURTH. “ Hov IS our little Johnny celebrating the Fourth?"’ asked the father, on Independence Day, 1912. as the law will allow,’ replied **He’s making as much nois: his wife. ‘* He's down cellar, cracking peanuts." 5. Firefly —** Hereafter I stay at 4. Zip! Bang!! Boom !! Whiz!!! home on the Fourth of July!" comicbooks.com