Judge, 1911-08-05 · page 25 of 27
Judge — August 5, 1911 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main poem depicts a parent's bittersweet reflection as their son receives his first adult trousers, marking his transition from childhood to manhood. The speaker recalls the boy's infancy, noting the loss of "little gray knee breeches" and childhood garments, while expressing parental pride mixed with nostalgia. The sentiment is sentimental rather than satirical—common Victorian/early-20th-century fare celebrating coming-of-age. The parent offers gentle moral guidance, reminding the boy that his parents sacrificed for him and expect responsible behavior. The page also contains brief humorous quips typical of Judge's style (jokes about Progressive politics, a stingy landlord, adultery), plus a Budweiser advertisement emphasizing "Quality, Purity, and Mildness" and a preview of next week's Judge issue. The illustration shows a young figure in long trousers, consistent with the poem's theme.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
His First Long Trousers. Say, young fellow, just a minute! They're your first long trousers, eh? 4nd your little gray knee breeches ‘Are forever put away; And your blouses and your stockings ‘And your little caps are gone, for the shirts and cuffs of manhood, ‘And you've got a derby on! Yes—you look well in them, sonny. Why, I can’t believe my eyes! for it doesn’t seem a year ago Since you were just this size, Anda little, pink-cheeked youngster. Why, you toddled, more than ran, Erery night to meet your daddy, And to-day you are a man! 0b, I don’t know how to tell you, But I want to, yes, I do, That your mother and your daddy Both are mighty proud of you. And we're going to miss the baby That from us to-day has gone, But that baby we’ll remember, Though he has long trousers on. We are banking on you, sonny, And we'll help you all we can; But it’s up to you, remember, Now to prove you are a man, You can make us mighty happy, You can make us mighty sad; Jast remember it’s not ly To do things you know are bad. I'm not going to preach a sermon. Mother's put your blouse away And your breeches, and I saw her Crying over them to-day; And I thought perhaps I'd give you Jast a thought to dwell upon— Please remember you're her baby, Though you've got long trousers on. —Detroit Free Press. A bottle of Abbott's Bitters should be on every tuble to serve with the soup course. Sample by mail, 25 eta. in stamps. C. W. Abbott & Co., Bakimore, Md. Unnecessary.—‘‘Are you going to join the new Progressive party?” “I don’t have to. I belong to the sinners.''— Baltimore American. That Flew, as Usual.— Wildman, Sr. {to son, home from college)—‘‘Well, Richard, how have things been going vith you this term?"" Wildman, Jr.=-''Pretty slow, dad— except the cash.’’—Boston Transcript. An Eye to the Future.—Wife—*Why did you refuse to give that man the teoms?"* Hushand—* He looked so ill-tempered, Iwas afraid I should never summon up courage to raise his rent later on.’’— Pliegende Blaetter. He—*You know Maude is going abroad to study music?” She—*Who is going to pay for it? Her father can't.” He—"{ don't know. The next-door neighbors probably.'’—London Opinion VARICOSE VEINS, pap ies s home treatment. The Very Highest Point known to the Art of Modern Brewing is found within every bottle of Budweiser “The Old Reliable’’ Brews will come and brews will go—have their little day—then vanish— but Budweiser goes on forever — everlasting Quality, Purity, and Mildness is the reason. Bottled only (with corks or crown caps) at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery St. Louis, Mo. THINGS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN. A client refusing to pay for her portrait be- cause it flatters her.—London Punch NEW YORK NUMBER J UDGE NEXT WEEK No matter where you live you will like this issue. Contributions by such lead- ing humorists as John Kendrick Bangs, Ellis Parker Butler, Wallace Irwin, Harvey Peake, Carolyn Wells, etc., etc. You are sure of this number only order your newsdealer to save you a copy In answering advertisements please mention JUDGE. It will be appreciated. comicbooks.com