Judge, 1910-11-12 · page 5 of 24
Judge — November 12, 1910 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page features a silhouetted central figure labeled "JUDGE" surrounded by various caricatured men in Victorian dress, arranged in a circle. The accompanying poem and commentary mock older men who cling to youthful behaviors and attitudes. The satire targets aging gentlemen who refuse to acknowledge their age—they claim their hearts remain youthful despite advancing years, avoid spectacles and canes, maintain youthful vices (smoking, drinking), and generally resist the dignified comportment expected of elderly men in Victorian society. The cartoon ridicules this denial of aging as foolish and undignified, suggesting that attempting to preserve youth through behavior rather than accepting one's years with grace is both pathetic and comic. The circular arrangement emphasizes how widespread this behavior apparently was among Judge's intended male readership.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
—— AND THE THOUGHTS OF AGE ARE YOUNG, YOUNG “Why, by gosh !"* another says, “Old? Why, man alive! It was only t' other day I was twenty-five. Looking at this picture lots of folks will say, “What a bunch of old men, men who 've seen their day." Bat you ask the oldest what he knows of joy And I'll bet he'll answer, Man, I'm still a boy. Sinews may be stiffer than they used to be, Bat my heart is just as young as at twenty-three."" Then another answers, ‘‘ I could run a mile If the entrance money made it worth my while. Eighty in November, feeling mighty spry ; When these ‘planes are cheaper think I il learn to Drums and fifes a-playin’, banners hangin’ gay, As we headed for the war, marchin’ down Broad- way.” “Call me ‘ kiddo,’ '* ninety-three. If you ‘re hunting folks that 's old don’t you come to me. Never touched a drop of rum, never chew nor smoke ; Never used no spectacles, always liked my joke."* “'T'll be ninety,”’ says a fifth, ‘on the first of May; ‘Smoked since I was seventeen, drink 'most every day. says a fourth. ‘ I'm not THOUGHTS. Whiskey 's kept me feeling young, "baccy ’s kept me smart; Doctor felt my pulse and says I've a youngster's he: art. When I ‘ve reached a hundred I'll begin again, If you 're passing through these parts come and see me then.’” *Tisn't rum or no rum keeps these oldsters young. Listen to the reason and my song is sung: Limbs and body may grow stiff but (it's quite an art) You can keep forever young with a youngster’s beart, Charles Rattell Loomis. comicbooks.com