Judge, 1911-02-25 · page 8 of 24
Judge — February 25, 1911 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the famous (likely apocryphal) George Washington cherry tree legend, where young Washington supposedly confessed to cutting down his father's tree rather than lying about it—a tale used to teach honesty to children. **The main cartoon** mocks how this moral lesson became muddled and logically absurd when actually explained to schoolchildren. Mr. Firkin, the flustered teacher, tries to defend the story's lesson about truthfulness, but the students trap him in circular logic: if Washington didn't cut the tree down, did lying about it count as lying? The children's increasingly absurd questioning exposes how nonsensical the whole moralizing becomes. **The satire's point**: American civic mythology (represented by the Washington legend) crumbles under scrutiny. The story itself is likely fabricated, and its moral lesson becomes incoherent when examined critically—suggesting that America's foundational narratives aren't as solid as believed. The other brief pieces on the page continue this theme of deflating pretense and exposing contradictions in American life and values.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“He said no such thing!" exclaimed Mr. Firkin angrily. ‘‘The whole story is a—a lie “Was what George told his father a lie?’’ asked the red- headed boy “*Yes—no!"’ said Mr. Fir- kin perspiringly. ‘‘If he had said it, it would not have been ; but he did not say 8 is a lie’’—— “You mean that what George Wash- ington said was a lie if he didn’t say don’t you, Mr. Firkin?’ said the girl in pink gingham. “No, you don’t, do you?" said the boy with the sore toe. ‘*You mean he lied when he didn’t say he didn’t say it, don’t you, Mr. Firkin?” “Children’’—said ously. “Aw!'’ said the red-headed boy, ‘‘1 He means George Mr. Firkin nerv- know what he means. Washington's father walloped him be- cause he didn’t tell a lie when he triec 9 Gono NOT MUCH DOUBT. Judge—"' Now did tyou really call this leman a homely old fool last night ?"” Prisoner—"* Well, the more I look at him the more I think I did."” “No, he don’t!"?.said the boy with warts. ‘*He means that George Wash- ington lied when he didn’t tell his father he didn’t cut down no cherry tree that wasn't there.’’ “Yah, smarty !"’ said the boy sore toe. ‘‘That ain't what he He mearis'"’—-— “Please, sir,’ said the girl with the blue hair ribbons sweetly, ‘‘you mean you don't know what you mean, don’t you?" Mr. Firkin’s face became as red as a turkey cock’s wattles, and the teacher ith the means. IT MADE US FAMOUS. arose and tapped sharply on her desk with her pencil. “Children,"’ she said, ‘‘we will sing America!'’ And the little darlings all sang: “Mike Hunt tree, ‘tis a the, Swede land a Libby tea, Of the icing!"" The Only Thing To Do. HEN the clergyman, clad in white, mounted the pulpit, the youngster observed him for the first time. ‘*Mother,"’ he whispered, Holy Ghost?" The wise mother, to suppress further questioning, replied, 3"? is that the What's the Use ? CANNOT tell the old tale About that cherry tree, Because the editor would mail It quickly back to me. Tempora Mutantur. By WILBUR D. NESBIT. FT have we read the phrase ‘‘Tem- pora mutantur’’— Certainly, brother, they do in a canter! Take, as example, theatrical doings; Once ‘twas the chorus unclad for our viewings. Now all the chorus is overdressed, surely, And dames in the boxes sit half-clad, demurely. His Trouble. 66Q)H. DOCTOR, I feel very faint." Says Doc, ‘You have kidney complaint.” “Yes, that's it, that’s what it means For last night I ate a can of kidn beans."” ECAUSE Washington married a wid- ow is no sign that he could not have married a single woman nor that Martha had to do all the courting. au ARS, ONCE WAS ENOUGH. O° Hara—‘' Take home a sthew ? Not fer moine, me b'y ! Oi done ut lasht noight, an’ phwin Oi got him home his ould woman blamed me fer gettin’ him dhrunk!"" comicbooks.com