Judge, 1909-07-03 · page 7 of 16
Judge — July 3, 1909 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American patriotism and Independence Day customs circa the early 1900s. **"Where Did They Come From?"** mocks newlyweds at Coney Island amusement park. The wife finds theatrical attractions—"War Is War," "Fire and Flames," "The End of the World"—progressively chaotic and destructive. Her comment that the apocalyptic finale is "just like home" sarcastically suggests domestic life mirrors theatrical catastrophe, critiquing marriage or domestic discord. **"The Usual Fourth"** contrasts historical and contemporary Fourth of July observance: founding fathers performed significant deeds; modern Americans merely attend baseball games (five thousand vs. one hundred at civic exercises), suggesting decline in patriotic seriousness. **"The Spirit of '76"** features a visiting Englishman traumatized by fireworks displays, calling them "sky-cycling." This mocks aggressive American patriotic demonstrations—particularly fireworks—as excessive and dangerous, while satirizing British condescension toward American customs. Overall, the page critiques how Americans have trivialized Independence Day into entertainment and spectacle rather than genuine civic commemoration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Vid Cherubibby Cherubabby— WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? N OUT-OF-TOWN visitor and his wife decided to spend an evening at Coney Island. ‘The first show they struck was ‘‘ From = the Earth to the Moon.” They stood that all right, al- though Mary was a bit diz- zy as the airship ascended. Escaping safely, they land- ed right in front of * War Is War.” John enjoyed i but Mary ducked time one of the mimic ¢ boats sent off a shot (from the wings). From there they hap- “The Cave of where queer pened into the Gnome could inside the wiggling of an enormous serpent, When they finally stood on firm boardwalk again, Mary said to John, ‘Is there anything more like this?” ** Dunno,”" y' he plun, And 1 into the entrance Jabeled “* Fire and Flames.” Mary stood for that, although she had to repress a shriek every time one of those fake women was rescued from the fake third story of the fake lodging house. When the curtain dropped, she drew a long breath. ** John," she whispered, ‘do you want to sce any more shows?" “ Well," he “there's one up the street aways that I'd kinder like to sev, It's called ‘The End of the World.’ "* Mary consented, and they went in and took The lightning lightninged, the the earthquake quaked, the , the thunder thundered. Then Mary turned to John and said, “Why, this is just like home! Let's s their seats. over again,’ TT HE Fourth of July was the day our fore- rs did things; to-day it is the day the small boy does things. jee, Babby! Where did you git the scrub wings?" t upon it, Bibby ; my mother cut them down from an old pair of pap’s."” YS em yy 1. eyyyypyy QWLWW) ANCESTRAL CUSTOM. THE USUAL FOURTH. 66 HOW WAS July Fourth observed in your town?” “In the usual way ; there were one hundred people at the town exercises, and five thousand at the baseball game.’’ THE SPIRIT OF 76. Englishman— | say! Blessed if 1 ever yo sky-cycling over this blooming country again on Fourth of July night.”