Judge, 1915-01-23 · page 9 of 24
Judge — January 23, 1915 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains racist dialect humor typical of early-20th-century American magazines. The main story depicts an exchange between a white "colonel" and an elderly Black man ("Rastus") using offensive period stereotypes and language. The satire works on two levels: First, it mocks the pretense of paternalistic race relations—the colonel offers charity as noblesse oblige, claiming eternal friendship. Second, it portrays the Black character as lazy and manipulative, claiming the new shoes are "too good" for him and requesting worn boots instead, supposedly to avoid breaking them in himself. The joke relies on racist caricatures of Black people as shiftless and ungrateful. The accompanying brief jokes ("No Time," "Even Worse") are unrelated gender humor. The illustration shows three figures in formal dress—likely depicting the colonel, Rastus, and possibly another character from the story. This content reflects the deeply racist attitudes of its era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| | Rastus and His Shoes ‘HE OLD darky was about to turn away from his old master’s son, after greet- ing him upon the main thoroughfare of the town, when the latter noticed a wistful cast in the old man’s eye, and for the sake of an ancient friendship stopped him to see if his one-time retainer had any unsatisfied yearnings. “Of course you know, Rastus,’’ he said, “that I want always to be your friend, and if there is anything I can do for you, you won't fail to let me know, will you?’* “Thank yuh, Marse George,’’ Rastus re- plied. ‘*Secin’ as how yo’ mention it, kuh- nell, Ah do need a pair o’ shoes powahful bad, suh. Dese here ole boots Ah got on muh feet now is mos’ nigh done fer.’" “Why, certainly, certainly!’’ cried the colonel. ‘*Delighted to be of service, Rastus. We'll get 'em right away. Come along with me, and I'll fit you out.'" He led the old man into a large shop half way up the block, and in a few minutes the old darky walked forth upon the highway with a parcel under his arm containing the finest product in the way of brogans the market afforded. ‘Now, remember, Rastus,"’ said the colo- nel pleasantly, as they parted, ‘‘I’m always ready to remember old times, and my dear old dad was fond of you, and when you need help, I'll do all I can to give it to you.”* TRICTLY NEUTRAL Rastus murmured his grateful thanks and passed on. Three days later, however, he was back, this time at the colonel’s door. “‘Good-morning, Rastus,’’ said the colo- nel cheerily. ‘‘Glad to see you again. Anything special?’ “Why—yass, Marse George," the old fellow replied. ‘* Yo’ was good enough, Marse Kuhnell, to say ef Ah needed help"’. “Surelee!"” returned the colonel. “What is it this time?" ““Well, yo’ see, Marse George,"’ said Rastus, ‘Ah do need shoes powahful bad, suh. Dese here ole boot “Why, you old rascal,’’ laughed the colonel, ‘‘I bought you a brand-new pair only three days ago"’ OY, Marse George—yassuh, Ah knows dat,”’ replied the old man; ‘‘but, yo’ see, suh, dem new shoes is too good fo’ an ole no-count niggah like me, suh, an’, b’sides dat, Marse George, Ah’s a pore man, suh, an’ Ah kain’t affohd to pay nobody to break dem shoes in fo’ me, suh. Hain’t yo’ got a niee ele pa’r 0’ boots dat’H sort 0” rest easy on de foot ob an ole man?"’—Gurlyle Smith, Even Worse Bibos—What is your wife doing when she isn’t t Gibbs—S he’s looking it, that’s what. No Time Judge—Why don't you look for work? Casey—Oi haven't the toime to waste in such unprofitable employment, ‘* What size collar does your husband wear?"* ‘*Dear me, I've forgotten! But I know it's larger than Fido’s,"’ comicbooks:com