Judge, 1914-02-14 · page 15 of 24
Judge — February 14, 1914 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a sequential comic strip titled "Percy's Ruse: or, Overcoming a Crabbed Disposition," depicting a young man named Percy pursuing a romantic objective. The narrative appears to involve Percy courting a woman (Lady Annabel) whose father opposes the relationship, prompting Percy to devise schemes to win approval or elope. The strip's humor relies on physical comedy typical of early 20th-century silent film—exaggerated expressions, slapstick situations, and escalating predicaments. The repeated captions ("A Little Later," "The Same Evening") mimick film title cards. Below the strip, three brief satirical commentaries mock contemporary social attitudes: phonographs as status symbols, modern theater's fixation on sexuality, and auction etiquette. References to "Florodora Sex Tette" and "biological impulses" suggest Judge magazine's critique of increasingly frank theatrical content of that era. The overall tone is lighthearted domestic comedy aimed at middle-class readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SECRET POST- OFFICE PERCY TO THE RESCUE, THEREBY Percy's Ruse: or, Overcoming a Crabbed Disposition A Talking Point The Real Beginners Flushes “This phonograph,"” averred the sales- Ravenyelp—The modern play seems to _He sat and played amid the crush man, ‘‘needs no introduction."’ be nothing more nor less than the drama- (Excuse this tear-and-sob tale!) “Why not?” tization of biological impulses. Can you Upon his cheek a hectic flush, “It speaks for itself.”” tell me who started this sex business, And in his hand a bebtalls Than a — anyway? _ —Walt Mason. The man who fares best at an auction Biffstick—I don’t know, unless it was Occasionally a man’s sins find him out sale is the one who bids on nothing. the Florodora Sex Tette. —at the elbows, comicbooks.com