Judge, 1916-01-29 · page 6 of 28
Judge — January 29, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story parodies medieval romance by transplanting Sir Lancelot to modern America. The joke centers on cultural clash: the noble knight, expecting chivalric adventure, encounters street harassment and modern dating customs instead. When Lancelot witnesses young women being catcalled by corner loafers ("Cheep, cheep"), he draws his sword to defend them—a heroic response rendered absurd by the mundane setting. The women aren't distressed; they flirt back, with one man claiming to be in "the egg business." The satire mocks both outdated chivalry (Lancelot's misplaced gallantry) and modern America's irreverence toward traditional courtship. Lancelot becomes a museum curiosity—literally, someone suggests "the museum door" was left open. The "Poultry Age" title suggests America has reduced romance to something as common and undignified as chickens. The cartoon ridicules American modernity's brashness while questioning whether old-world honor has any relevance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* your yellow-haired pal? My friend, Ed, KNIGHT ERRANTRY By TERRELL Sk LAUNCELOT, valiant knight of the Round Table, tiring of the grave’s inactivity, had come back to life—in America. It would be unjust to say that he had chosen to play the States for the same reason that the other English celeb- rities do—because of the higher pay. The good = knight had not become tainted with the commer- cial spirit which now animates alike the lordliest duke and the coster balladist. Unsophisticated Launcelot, wotting not of Merrie England’s one- time militant maids, figured that more adven- * tures were to be encountered in a new land. Just ahead of him on a busy street Launcelot observed a couple of maidens, or such he took them tobe. Knowing naught of the masseuse, Turkish bath, long- hipped corset or Doris Doembrown’s drugless fat reduction methods, he did not associate the matronly state with the maidenly figure. “Of a certainty,” reflected the knight, “they are comely, though a bit overbold of eye. Yet they may, like myself, be round-eyed with wonder at the strange sights. But methinks their habilimentsare most unseemly. Holloa! Mayhap here is work for Launcelot.” The girls were passing a group of cor- ner loafers. “Cheep, cheep,” chirped one youth. “Oh, you chickens,” called another. The girls giggled at each other and slackened their pace. Launcelot, grasping his (t)rusty sword, drew nearer. “Wait a minute, Black Eyes,” re- quested one of the youths who left the group. “TI don’t know you,” she answered, glancing over her shoulder to be sure that he was following. “Aw, you di My name’s Jack.’ “Lots of fellows saw me,” simpered “And I’ve forgotten them I saw you at the dance. “All but me,” bantered Jack. “Who's wants to know her.” pay for itself in fines IN THE LOVE HOLLIDAY Judge Brown—Why, certainly. If we ha ! POULTRY AGE “Tt’s none of his business who I am,” tartly responded Yellow Hair. “Never mind,” said Ed. ‘I can call you ‘girlic.’” “And get called down!” “By my halidom!” swore Sir Launcelot, gripping his weapon tighter. ‘The scurvy knaves had best beware.” “Well, how would ‘honey’ do?” chaffed E he ide: claimed the girls. “You are a fresh one,” added Yellow Hai cd laughed. “I have to be: I’m in the egg business.”” The c! rous adventurer’s wrath burst bounds. “Ye dirty varlets!” he roared, advancing upon them. “Get hence.” “Look at it,” jeered Ed, to the accompaniment of s the girls. ‘Who left the museum door open?” Disdaining to use the point upon such puny opponents, Launce- ickers from Farmer Greene—So you think this here highway should be improved, jedge ? a road here that motorists could speed on, it would <lmost comicbooks.com