Judge — July 13, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge satirical poem mocks three scenarios where young people on dates discover they cannot afford to pay their bills. Each vignette follows the same pattern: a person indulges (eating, ordering cigarettes, shopping, buying ice cream), then faces embarrassment upon realizing they lack funds. The title "Modern Highwayman" sarcastically compares these situations to highway robbery—suggesting that restaurants and shops effectively steal from patrons who overspend. The repeated refrain "He didn't have the price" emphasizes the social humiliation of being unable to settle debts. The satire targets early-20th-century consumer culture and young people's irresponsible spending habits. It suggests that modern commercial establishments are predatory, luring customers into purchases they cannot afford, leaving them stranded and ashamed. The joke relies on the audience recognizing the anxiety of public embarrassment over unpaid bills.