Judge, 1911-03-25 · page 9 of 30
Judge — March 25, 1911 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three main satirical pieces mocking upper-class leisure and excess: **"The Charge of the Bridge Brigade"** parodies Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade," comparing wealthy socialites (the "Four Hundred"—a term for New York's elite) obsessively playing bridge card games to soldiers in battle. The satire suggests their card games are trivial yet consuming, treating a parlor game with military intensity. **"The First Gambling Club"** cartoon depicts children gambling and playing games, satirizing how gambling has become normalized entertainment even for the young, presented as innocent "club" activity. The other brief jokes mock: - Browning's continued popularity in Boston (likely poet Robert Browning) - Shoe sales trends among the wealthy - A German immigrant's malapropisms about wholesome food Overall, the page ridicules wealthy society's frivolous obsessions (card games, gambling) and class pretensions, while gently mocking immigrants and commercial culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“-TWAS EVER THUS.” Strong as Ever. HE TWO traveling salesmen were discussing business conditions. One of them in the book trade ventured the query: “Does Browning sell as well as ever over in Boston?"’ “Oh, yes,”’ said the other, who repre- sented a three-dollar shoe “Better, in fact. People are wearing tan shoes all the year round now."” concern. The Charge of the Bridge Brigade. (with apotogies to Tennyson.) by ESTELLE May NOLTE UT THE cards, deal them out, Make it, or bridge it— This the engrossing game Of the Four Hundred. “Bridge !'’ was the dealer's cry. Theirs not to wink an eye, Theirs but to win or die— Hard-worked Four Hundred! Foe to the right of them, Foe to the left of them, Dummy in front of them Sat up and wondered. Started with such delight, Played now with frenzied might; That they might lose to-night Feared the Four Hundred. Stared at with looks of hate, If foe was made to wait While they were tempting fate. “*Play!”’ then he thundered. Scared all their thoughts away, Plunged them into the fray, Madly did they then play-- Frenzied Four Hundred! Stormed at with frown and yell, Boldly they played and well. What though the heavens fell And friends were sundered! For the odd trick was won, Prize gained, and game was done; Proudly they home could run— Clever Four Hundred! Jaggs—‘*Is your wife still at home?" Craggs— Unless I’m there.” QUITE ‘‘HOLESOME”. Herr Hofbrau—'* Der toctor tole me to ead nodding bud wholesome food. 1 guess dot biece of Sweitzer kase ain'd ‘holesome’? Ja!" At the Zoo Hotel. rT) I, THERE! What do you think you are doing?” roared the Lion, as the Monkey Bellboy gave him a ter- rifie punch in the stomach. “Nothing, sir,’ grinned the Monkey. “Only the Lamb left orders at the office last night for me to wake him up early, and I thought maybe he was inside there.”’ THE FIRST GAMBLING CLUB, comicbooks.com