Judge, 1912-07-06 · page 5 of 24
Judge — July 6, 1912 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a short story by Marie V. Caruthers titled "Pop! Pop!" about a girl named Mary Ellen and a boy named Joseph Hawkins (nicknamed "Joe"). The narrative describes Mary Ellen's struggle to confess her feelings to Joseph, culminating in the Fourth of July when firecrackers' "popping" sounds startle them both. The accompanying illustrations show two cartoon scenes: the domestic setting mentioned in the story, and a sketch of two figures among exploding firecrackers ("Through Thick and Thin"). This appears to be lighthearted romantic fiction rather than political satire. The humor derives from the innocent comedy of young romance and the coincidental timing of the Independence Day celebrations with the characters' personal drama.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OUNG Mary Ellen had a bashful beau— One Joseph Hawkins, commonly called “Joe Who loved her very, very much, but, oh! Could not quite find the nerve to tell her so! A score of times she neatly paved the way (Knowing herself the words he ought to say), And she was anxious, quite, to name the d But Joseph always shied and ran away. At length rolled round the Great Day of July; Came Mary Ellen's chance, as night drew nigh. **Pop!'’ went the crackers’ loud and warning ery. “Pop!"? snapped torpedoes quickly in reply. “Pop!” shrieked the pis- tol’s small voice of alarm. THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD—HIS DAD. Pop! Pop! By MAZIE V. CARUTHERS. “Pop!"’ answered Echo, all around the farm. And Mary feared the sound might do her harm, So nestled close to arm. willing Joseph's The stars shone brightly in the Milky Way. “*Oh,"" gay, said the artful maiden, feeling THROUGH THICK AND THIN. “know now what the crackers try to say They long day e just been ‘popping’ all the live- ‘*Popping!’"’ The words sweet suggestion— Set Joseph’s wits a problem in digestion. His heart flopped madly, swelling to congestion. “*Mary,"’ he gasped, ‘1 want to pop the question!” Thus Independence Day went to its rest, While still the crackers ‘popped’? with tireless zest; But Mary Ellen's head on Joseph’s vest Denoted that his method suited best! conveyed a Peregrine—‘She looks like an actress—amateur.’” Rhoderick—**Yes. Must belong to the Paint and Powder Club.” comicbooks.com