Judge, 1912-10-05 · page 19 of 26
Judge — October 5, 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects humorous anecdotes translated from European satirical magazines (German *Fliegende Blätter*, British *Punch* and *The Sketch*). The jokes rely on cultural misunderstandings and class humor typical of early 20th-century publications. The cartoons illustrate absurd logic: a German finds Shakespeare's *Othello* implausibly emotional over a handkerchief; a cigar salesman argues that slow-burning cigars save money (paradoxically); a landlord refuses to hire a bandmaster because he bans music in his house. Other sketches mock social pretension—embarrassment among working-class "trippers" (tourists), a clergyman mistaken for a married man, a retired professor making puns about trading "cube roots" for "radish roots." The humor depends on observing human contradiction and linguistic wordplay rather than sophisticated satire, appealing to readers amused by everyday foolishness across cultures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
incomprehensible. Herr Limmchen: “Dieser ‘Othello’ ist ein ver- réektes Stdck! — Es int Sie doch unmehglich, dass ¢ia Mensch _wexen eenes verlorenen Taschentuches ‘pe solche Wut bekomm Mr. Lambkin—“This ‘Othello’ is a crazy piece! It is altogether impossible thata man should get into such a rage on account of a lost handkerchief."’— Fliegende Blaetter (Munich). - A Salesman's Logic. tarnita bachfeine Marke—und dann dieser wunder- me Brand! Wenn Sie revelmiissig da- ven betiehen, sparen Siz ein Vermégen!” . “They are a very fine brand of cigars, indeed, and, then, they burn so wonder- fally slow! If you smoke them regu- larly, you will save a fortune.""—Flie- Gende Blaetter (Munich). It Was Embarrassing. Extract from Blanche’s letter to_her dearest friend—** And it was frightfully embarrassing, when I went with Will for a walk on the cliffs at sunset, to come amongst a lot of trippers, who shouted: ‘Don’t be shy with ‘im, miss —sit down and spoon the same as us!’’* —London Opinion. Simple. : “In meinem Haus darf keine Musik gemacht werden.” Mi ‘Aber erlauben Sie, ich bin Kapell- meister.” Hausherr: “Dann fangen S’ ‘was ander’s an!” Landlord—‘1 don’t allow any music in my house. Prospective tenant—‘*But, pardon me, Tam a bandmaster!"" Landlord—*Then do something else for a living."’— Fliegende Blaetter (Munich). Had She a Good Time? The Nut—‘‘Hadn’t we better look after your aunt a bit 7” The Flapper—Oh! Aunty’s quite good at amusing herself.’’—Punch (London). The Sympathetic Steward—‘Can I do anything for your wife, sir?” Curate—“It isn’t my wife, I don't know who it is —poor thing!''—The Sketch (London). A Bit Candid. First tripper (after lengthy survey of second ditto)—*‘You ‘as got a hugly face, ’asn’t you, mate?"’ Second tripper—Corn’t do nuffin’ abaht it.’” First’ tripper—-‘'You might ‘ave stopped at 'ome.’’—Punch (London). The Mathematician. fessor, wie fblen Sie sich im snz wohl... Priher zog ich id jetzt zien’ ich Radiwurzeln.”” “Well, professor, how are you enjoy- ing yourself in your retirement?”’ “Very well! Formerly I extracted cube roots, now I extract radish roots.’’ —Fliegende Blaetter (Munich). comicbooks.com