Judge, 1915-04-10 · page 11 of 24
Judge — April 10, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This fable by E.A. Ballinger uses animals to satirize insincere charity and manipulative patronage. A hound pretends friendship by offering food to lure a raccoon from safety, claiming concern for the raccoon's health and exercise. The raccoon sees through this—recognizing the dog hides nearby, waiting to attack once he's vulnerable. The moral, delivered by Mr. Coon, criticizes "charity calculated on terms of expediency"—aid given not from genuine concern but to exploit or control the recipient. The "private property" sign on the tree emphasizes the raccoon's right to his own space. This likely critiques American political or business practices of the era: paternalistic gestures toward workers, immigrants, or marginalized groups that mask ulterior motives. The raccoon's eloquent self-defense suggests satirizing those who see through such false benevolence.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FROM GIFTS WIT H Ru RO AL BALLINGER A HOUN’ dog had located the lair of a rac- coon in a hollow tree. The houn’ spent much effort in scratching at the tree and bark- ing, while Mr. Coon sat quietly out of his reach, grinning at his futile efforts. Finally Mr. Houn’, realizing that his houn’ tactics were unavailing, decided to adopt the methods of his master—of pretending friend- ship through bringing to Mr. Coon choice bits of food. At first he dropped the food near the tree; afterward, each time he left it further away, in order to inveigle Mr. Coon from his safe retreat. One morning Mr. Coon poked his nose out of his door, and looking cautiously about spied Mr. Houn’ hiding in the bushes near by. “Good morning,” said Mr. Coon. “You have been most kind to bring me such delicious things to eat; but why do you not leave them near my door now, as you did at first?” “Oh, well,” replied Mr. Houn’, with all the sang-froid he could muster, “because it seemed to me you needed exercise as well as food.” BAC .Co0H “Thank you,” answered Mr. Coon. “I think I under- 2 stand your extreme concern for my welfare. | shall likewise be careful that you are not in hiding when } I take my exercise. | am reminded that charity cal- 3 culated on terms of expediency is ignoble.” f PROPER I>