Judge, 1915-09-04 · page 5 of 27
Judge — September 4, 1915 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The top illustration depicts a crowded beach resort scene with bathers and vacationers. The cartoon caption captures casual beach conversation, with one person complaining about being cold after four hours of swimming, another asking "Why doncha go in?" — to which comes the reply "I c-can't" and "Why cancha?" followed by "I bloat p-part o' my bub-bub-bathin' suit." This is a simple gag about someone who has lost or damaged their swimming costume and is embarrassed to enter the water. It's humor based on physical embarrassment and the social awkwardness of a modest mishap at a public beach—the kind of mild, family-friendly comic scenario typical of Judge magazine's satirical content. The joke relies on Victorian-era attitudes about propriety and bathing attire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Gee, Bill, I'm c-cold! “WEL no; there’s nothing in particu- lar going on here, just now,” replied the landlord of the Petunia tavern. “Business is so slow that nobody but the liars are making ex- penses. I set here day after day on my own porch, and hardly ever have anybody tell me how much bet- ter than this one all the rest of the hotels in the world are con- ducted. The farmers mizzle into town, buzz around a while about the calamities yet to come, and then perooze off home, sober. Don’t believe there’s been a fight or scandal worth watching or listening to for three months. No, there ain’t anything doing here, and —— I have been here four hours!” Wvetaerstee eae “Why doncha go in?” p-part o' my bub-bub-bathin’ soot.” AN INTERESTING CASE By TOM P. MORGAN “But, ho! Come to think, though, there’s a tollable interesting trial going on over at the courthouse now. It is the case of Pertwhistle vs. The Vinegar Valley Railway Co., wherein the plaintiff alleges that on or about a certain day last month, while he was riding in or on a car belonging to the defendant, the conductor, then and there in the employ of the said defendant, did feloniously and maliciously seize a portion of the person of the said Pertwhistle, namely, his right ear, and did then and there, having and holding said car firmly between the thumb and forefinger of his, the conductor's, left hand, assault and mangle him, the said Pertwhistle, by snapping, piercing and puncturing two holes or orifices through the “T ccan’t.” “Why cancha?” “T Lost lobe of the said car of him, the’ said Pert- whistle, with a dangerous weapon, namely, one ticket-punch of metal, nickel-plated; from the effects of which the said Pert- whistle still languishes, and languishing ives to make complaint, and pray to be rded damages to and in the sum of $10,000, for actual injuries and great mental pain and anguish. “Plaintiff further alleges that the con- ductor could just as readily have punched his ticket, for at the time of the assault the said Pertwhistle had the ticket with him and was extending or holding it forth as is the custom at such times, and that an instant’s comparison of the two would have enlightened the conductor as to which ticket and .which was ear, for the form plainly stated his place of destination, while the latter was silent on the subject. comicbooks.com