Judge, 1913-10-11 · page 7 of 24
Judge — October 11, 1913 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* magazine contains several brief humorous pieces typical of early 20th-century satirical magazines: **"Intellectual Conversation"** (top cartoon): Two men debate whether it would be "queer" to swap identities—a light philosophical joke playing on the absurdity of such a premise. **"Reticent for Cause"**: A child refuses to disclose her father's profession at Sunday school. When forced to answer, she reveals he's a "bearded lady in the Dime Museum"—meaning he works as a circus freak exhibit. The humor lies in the child's shame and the teacher's shock at this disreputable occupation. **"The Fountain of Mirth"**: A short poem observing that while the world is "round" (orderly), people are "flat" (dull/peculiar), making human folly amusing. **"Up in Smoke" and "Piscatorial"**: Brief jokes about stock certificates and fishing, using visual puns and wordplay common to the era. The overall tone is genteel mockery of middle-class propriety and social embarrassment—typical *Judge* fare targeting educated audiences amused by others' discomfort.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
INTEL Bobby—t say, old chap, wouldn't it be queer if you were me and I were you? Reticent for Cause ARRAYED in her best and with divers little Mary was started off to Sunday school for the first time. & ing by the teacher, Mary, name, age and place of abode, was duly enrolled To a question asked her SA of her father, Mary, it was noticed, made no re- explained to Mary that she desired to know what business her father was en- Still no response. Impatient at the child’s obstinacy and who were giving open-mouthed attention to the proceedings, the teacher chided admonitions sounding in her ears, Following a cordial greet- upon diaclosing her full ’ uz as @ member of the class. 2> concerning the vocation ply. The teacher, repeating the question, gaged in—what kind of work he did. fearing its effect upon the other scholars, Mary for her unseemly behavior and in- sisted upon her answering the question —what her father did for a living. Rising suddenly, her face blazing and breathing defiance in every word, Mary hurled this at the teacher: ‘Well, then, if you must know, my father is the bearded lady in the Dime Museum.” The Fountain of Mirth The world is round, A graceful sphere; But folks are flat And mostly queer. And hence a joy No grief can smother, For men can laugh At one another! — Charles Irvin Junkin, Up in Smoke An attractive stock certif- icate showing a picture of Robby—Bah Jove! never thought of it. Said this gent: P'raps we are, Such a Prode! SHE'S stopping at the Mountain House, But great seclusion seeks; She always dresses in the dark, Because the mountain peaks, PISCATORIAL “On such fish I would dine ; a factory chimney emitting smoke is very suggestive of where your money goes. Pray where do you catch them so fine ?”” Quoth the old salt: All I get I find in me net, Or else on the end o’ me line,"’ comicbooks.com