Judge, 1910-12-24 · page 20 of 24
Judge — December 24, 1910 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reproduces a **caption contest** from Judge magazine. The accompanying illustration (visible at top) shows a woman standing beside a broken-down automobile on a darkened road, with the vehicle's occupant visible. The magazine announced the original caption had been "lost, strayed or stolen" and solicited replacements, awarding prizes for the best submissions across various categories: most literary, wittiest, most practical, most poetic, etc. The winning captions are clever wordplay centered on automobiles and romantic/domestic themes. The first prize references Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem about the "One-Hoss Shay." Other entries pun on "tire," "re-tire," and automotive breakdowns as metaphors for relationships. This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about automobiles as new technology disrupting courtship and family life—a common Judge satire subject. The contest itself was a popular magazine feature of the era, inviting reader participation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PRIZE AWARDS “JUDGE'S CAPTION CONTEST. The caption for the illustration reproduced above having become “lost, strayed or stolen,” JUDGE announced that a prize of fi would be awarded to the sender of the best caption and that one dollar each would be given for the six next best captions. of the contest see article on the editorial page of this number. FIRST PRIZE “Oh for the Deacon's One-Hoss Shay!” (With this quatrain for good measure.) And she thought of the wonderful one-hoss shay That was built in such a logical way, It ran a hundred years to a day, Without breaking down in the usual way. Awarded to James W. Shipe, 1030 Reagan Sunbury, Pa. OTHER PRIZE AWARDS MOST PROFANE CAPTION (That postal authorities will let Juoce print.) “Beyond the Profanity Belt.” Rey. Frank S. C. Wicks, 2041 Talbott Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. MOST SENTIMENTAL CAPTION “No Rose without a Thorn.” Mrs. Louis B. Robinson, Dorlands, Coolinge Lane, Folkestone, England. BEST LITERARY CAPTION When our great poet, Oliver Wadsworth Spearfellow, wrote the beautifully expres- sive sentence quoted below, he doubtless knew that at some time in the dim future “His Honor"? would print the picture ap- | propriate for such a sentiment. ‘*His Honor’ admits that the original caption for the picture in JupGe for Sep- tember 17th had become “lost, strayed or stolen." I deny having stolen it, but will confess to having found it. Ibeg to return it to ‘‘ His Honor "* herewith: “The Course of Tene Lore Never Did Run Smooth. L. C. Pratt, 402 Custom House, Portland, Oregon. WITTIEST CAPTION “Mishap and Miss Unhappy.” H. E. Ballou, 3516 10th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MOST PRACTICAL CAPTION “'Tis Time To Re-tire” —the Thought of Each Dr. Carroll H. Frink, Suite 301-302 Masonic Temple, Jacksonville, Florida. nn. dollars For a description The award has been made as follows BEST POETIC CAPTION “*O Woman! in our hours of ease, Uncertain, coy, and hard to please . When pain and anguish wring the brow A ministering angel thou!”” Robert J. Shores, Editor of the Idler, (A magazine for Idle People), East Orange, N. J. A Few of the Many Other Good Captions A Tire-Less Wait. A Present-Day Interpretation of “A Lady in Waiting.” The Girl or the Auto. An Infernal Machine. | After the First Cuss-Word. Needed a Little { AIR, A Lady ot the Tire? -¢ To Express Himself, Giving 9 Man » Ch * Paired and Repaired.”” aby Must Be Fed in Thirty Mevutes” When the Hearts and Autos Go Wrong. I Love Not Man the Less, but Nature More. A Re-Tiring Couple. The Only Time She Saw the Scenery. No Show for (Chauffeur) Him “Oh for the Wings of the On the Road to Man-delay. Gh apologies to Kipling. No Wedding Bells for Him. * Now—Let Him Swear.” Qne Peril of Eloping ‘wiih Chauffeur. “She,” by Rider Hagwa: Reyond the Voice of Wrathful Man. “1 Love My Automobile, but Oh, You Puncture !* lace, but the Wrong Man. How moch I long to be back there, Bat I think he needs the ruom to swear. comicbooks.com