Judge, 1916-02-26 · page 20 of 28
Judge — February 26, 1916 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects satirical cartoons from European publications (French, German, British) about WWI-era social conditions. Key themes: **Food rationing**: Multiple jokes mock meatless days and food scarcity during wartime ("Peterette Pan" shows a thin woman; the Berlin joke depicts wartime dietary restrictions). **Marital conflict**: A French cartoon jokes that divorce threats lose credibility when war requires male soldiers—a darkly humorous reference to conscription. **Class and dining**: German cartoons mock nouveau-riche diners struggling with etiquette and overly-cautious restaurant staff, suggesting social upheaval or anxiety about changing social hierarchies during wartime. **Economic desperation**: "The Sacrifice" shows couples debating whether to pawn their wedding ring, selling it to banks or foundries rather than jewelers—satirizing wartime financial hardship and the collapse of traditional values. Overall, the page presents European gallows humor about WWI's material deprivation, social disruption, and moral compromises. The "overseas" framing suggests Judge's American audience found European wartime struggles both amusing and culturally distant.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Peterette Pan in the Park The mamma who wouldn't grow up Sketch (London). S eae “Meiern, was hat denn Ihre Ida far ‘ne magere Preundin?” “Ach, mit die vakehrt se nur an die rwee fleischloven “Meiern, who is that thin woman that your Ida has for a friend?” “Oh, she only goes around with her on the two meatless days in the week.—U/k (Berlin). “If you divorce me, John, you'll have to > war!” Yes. Le Rire (Varis). Husband—Ain't I cnough?—Punch (Lon- don). Consolation Pikkolo (gutmutig rum Gaste, der sich krampfhat' muht, Messer und Gabel nchtig zu h: sen Sie nur ruhig mitdem Messer . . . auch nicht anders gemacht. Omnibus (kindly to a guest who is making strenuous efforts to manipulate his knife and fork correctly)—Don’t be afraid! Eat with your knife. I used to do the same thing once!—Fliegende Blaetter (Munich). ich hab’s fruhet It would be less dangerous! "— Diversion lem Stadtfrack da auf der It! Der untersucht ars die Butter, das kénnt Restaurant keeper—Resy, go out and jolly hap on the veranda. He’s so bored eps tasting the butter and wine, and he might be a chemist.—Meggendorfer Blactter (Munich). The Sacrifice x konnt'n wir schl We could give our wedding ring for the Fatherland—if we only knew where it would be worth the most. At the bank, the brass- foundry or the pawnshop.”—Jugend (Mu- nich). comicbooks.com