Judge, 1911-08-19 · page 12 of 24
Judge — August 19, 1911 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine *Judge* contains several humorous short pieces mocking social customs of the era: **"Ballade of Welcome"** celebrates the return of fashionable young women ("Summer Girls") to town each season—satirizing both male attention to their appearance and their conspicuous consumption of new clothing (tub frocks, tailor gowns, serge, linen). **"Little Mothers"** offers cynical observations on marriage: husbands prefer wives with empty hands (implying they've spent no money), and opportunity isn't predictable. **"Presence of Mind"** jokes about a man who stops a theater panic by commanding calm, then immediately flees—taking credit for preventing chaos he himself caused. **"On Canvas"** laments that modern people prefer picture shows to nature. **"Likes To Show It"** mocks vain women who ostentatiously display new engagement rings. The two illustrations show elegantly-dressed women with children, typical *Judge* fashion commentary. The overall tone satirizes urban upper-class vanity, consumerism, and social pretense typical of early 20th-century American satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ballade of Welcome. By CAROLYN WELLS. PLEASANT stir is in the air, The atmosphere is glad and gay, The very town seems debonair As we pursue our daily way; A stealthy interest we betray, And glance the pavement up and down. Ah, yes! the sight will well repay— The Summer Girl is back in town! We gaze admiring as we dare, Nor let our glance our thoughts con- vey; Though tempted openly to stare, Our better instincts we obey. Discreetly we our steps delay, Half minded to incur a frown. Truly it is a brave display— The Summer Girl is back in town! You have been flitting everywhere Since you deserted us last May; Your absence we have had to bear, Though overlong you seemed to stay. But now you're here, in glad array— In tub frock and in tailor gown, In serge and linen and pique— The Summer Girl is back in town! L’ENVOI. Oh, goddesses, we own your sway, Ye maidens of a dusky brown! It is with thankfulness we say The Summer Girl is back in town! LITTLE MOTHERS. You Know RUE love i: transferable. Nearly every husband enjoys having his wife meet him at the door with out- stretched--and empty—hands. Opportunity doesn’t stop and search for the doorbell. never marked, ‘‘Not ss) / Near-sighted tuba player—“ 1 NEVER SAW BEFORE. A SCORE THAT 1 COULD NOT PLAY AT SIGHT!” Presence of Mind. HERE are symptoms of a panic in the theater. A big man in the front row arises. “Sit down!’’ he roars. ‘‘There is no danger! Sit down!’’ The stampeding audience stops, turns, and faces him. “Sit down!’" he orders. ‘The people obediently sit down. “T will go to the entrance and show you that there is no danger whatever,” the big man says. He strolls along the aisle, reaches the exit, and rushes out. “That’s what I call presence of mind,” he tells himself. ‘I never could have got out of there if I hadn’t stopped that panic.”” On Canvas. HE BABBLING brook and the shady nook Are things of the long ago; If we'd now look at them, gadzook! We go to the picture show. Likes To ‘Show It. OLITUDE is sadly disagreeable to the girl with a new solitaire. comicbooks.com