Judge, 1910-01-08 · page 7 of 16
Judge — January 8, 1910 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century anxieties about automobiles disrupting rural life. The four-panel "Judge Before and After the Move" strip shows Uncle Si, a rural farmer, initially hosting pleasant summer visitors. However, once automobiles arrive ("that old automobile"), he finds life unbearable and moves to an isolated hilltop—only to discover the new location offers escape from automotive traffic. The satire targets two audiences: rural people resisting modernization, and urban motorists invading the countryside. Other brief jokes mock "get-rich-quick schemes," Prohibition ("World Wide Prohibition"), and social pretenses. The page reflects genuine period tensions: automobiles were rapidly transforming American society, creating conflict between rural traditionalists and urban progressives. Uncle Si's desperate retreat uphill represents rural resistance to inevitable change—a losing battle against modernity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE BEFORE AND AFTER THE MOVE. 1. Chorus —* We've had a perfectly lovely time, and will come 2. Uncle Si—"* Comin’ ag’in next summer, ch? Not if I know it. It and see you again next summer, sure. Good-by!"" was bad ‘nuff before; but since that old automobile ’s come, life ain't wath livin’, "Maria, I'm goin’ to sell out and move !"’ 3. Uncle Si (after the move) —"' It'll be some trouble goin’ down to 4. Chorus—"' Here we come, Uncle Si. What a fine, airy place the fields on the bottom land; but Maria, old gal, no old automo- your new home is."” bile 's ever got the power to climb up totthis roost. Hooray !"" BEWARE. A PSYCHIC PHENOMENON. HE SAD, hard times are past and gone; | MAN and woman accidentally touched each other's Prosperity is smiling. feet under the table. New ‘‘get-rich-quick’’ schemes now are born “Secret telegraphy,”” said he. For. easy mnsrk'e 7 berullleg, “Communion of soles,"” said she. SOMETHING MORE. ONE ON THE WAITER. AFTER the curtain had gone down on the English waiter—'‘ Which side of the table do you first act at the theater and two digni- wish to sit on, sir fied-appearing sitters arose and went out, the little boy in the adjacent seat said to his father, “Papa, why did the minister and the doctor go out?” “Oh, to have a smile, I presume." “Say, papa," whispered the youth, when the two professional men returned, “they must have had a good laugh, their faces are eo red!"” American guest—‘‘ I prefer to sit on a chair.’” ALWAYS THUS. Friend—"‘ Did your late husband have any relatives 2” Rich widow—" Only at Christmas and at What are those strap-bang- his death. ers kicking about? I'd A LONG, DRY SPELL. MN ee ME World Weide P-ro-b-i-b-i-t-i-on, comicbooks.com