Judge, 1913-02-08 · page 10 of 24
Judge — February 8, 1913 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects Valentine's Day-themed humor pieces (February 14th context). The top cartoon depicts a sculptor (referencing Rodin, famous for "The Thinker") complaining his work won't be seen—satirizing art for art's sake as impractical. The text pieces are brief jokes on romantic and marital themes typical of early 20th-century American humor: - Several mock romantic pretense ("The Fallacy" criticizes idealized moonlit romance) - Others jest about marriage dysfunction ("Her Suspicions," "Chronic") - One piece uses offensive racial dialect stereotyping a Black man's work ethic—reflecting the period's casual racism The humor relies on contemporary concerns: eugenics (mentioned as pseudo-scientific), gender dynamics, and economic hardship. "True to Her Trade" puns on a dressmaker "cutting" someone (social snubbing). The overall tone is cynical about love and marriage rather than sentimental—typical of Judge's satirical stance toward Victorian sentimentality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The mute, inglorious Rodin—" Aw, what wuz the use? There won't ever be a soul to see it.” February Fourteenth. HADN'T given the month a thought, And had quite forgotten the date; But Cupid knew! 1 was fairly caught Where the rascal lay in wait. “Your heart, sir!’’ came his challenge gay. T obeyed without remorse, For I thought, ‘‘Oh, now I know the day— St. Valentine’s, of course!"’ Warwick Ja Her Suspicions. Mre. Crawford—‘Did your husband send you a valentine?”’ Mrs. Henpeck—"'1 never like to ac- cuse anybody, but I think he did." His Impression. “‘What were her reasons for refusing you?” ‘*Well, it sounded like an essay on eu- genics, genealogy and finance!"" Encouragement. Why so glum, little Cupid? You shouldn’t be blue! Eugenics has never a thing upon you! No doctor’s grim charts can protect from thy darts What the scientist cannot eliminate— hearts; And where once you have wounded, in angry defiance, They follow your lead, and repudiate science. Maud McCormick, Chronic. “You say your husband contributes nothing to your support,’? said the lawyer. “‘No, suh, nary a cent. That niggah jest natchally won't work. An’ he’s done got plenty of debility, too, if he only could use it. The most expensive valentine does not always represent the highest respect. The Fallacy. N THE shadow, in the moonlight, Did we roam—my Prue and I— While the night winds wooed the rose, As if lovers passing by. Then I stole a kiss—what rapture! List ye how the world deceives! For she stole my heart—I question, Is there honor among thieves? Renee Gilmore Stott. Perfectly Devoted. “He's a perfectly devoted father!"’ “Is that so?”” “Yes; if their new baby keeps him awake all night, he never scolds his wife about it.’’ True to Her Trade. Flimmer—‘When Shimmerpate tried to speak to Miss Trimley just now, she passed him with her eyes a-slant.’’ Flamson—‘‘ Naturally; being a dress- maker, she cut him on the bias."’ comicbooks.com