Judge, 1916-03-18 · page 10 of 28
Judge — March 18, 1916 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor: **Top cartoon**: A domestic scene where "Betty" is caught between two suitors ("Ned" and "Jim"). The joke's punchline—visible in the caption—uses makeup as evidence of infidelity: Tom notices powder on Ned's shoulder but never on Jim's, suggesting Betty's romantic preference. **"Ballad of a Singing Cat"**: A humorous poem mocking the nocturnal noise of fighting tomcats, presented as high dramatic verse. The repetitive complaint "I fear thy song, O Cat!" parodies serious poetry forms while addressing an everyday urban annoyance. **Remaining items**: Short quips satirizing contemporary topics—China's return to monarchy, economic hardship (a child only clears "important" snow spots to save parents money), and wealthy men's diplomatic pretensions (equating a rich man's many relationships to "diplomatic relations"). The page reflects turn-of-century urban middle-class concerns: romance, domestic animals, economic anxiety, and social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Betty—Between Ned and Jim, to which does she lean > Ballade of a Singing Cat HEAR him sadly moan When sleep draws near at night He prowls the fence alone And sings of feats of might, Of lustful appetite, Of slaughtered bird and rat At once sleep takes to flight! I fear thy song, O Cat! Then, when his baritone Has: reached its frenzied height, Still other cats unknown Assist him to recite. With vigor they indict Some cattish plutocrat; And I, poor helpless wight, I fear thy song, O Cat! T toss and sigh and groan Upon my pillows white; For hopes of rest have flown When cats begin to fight I hear them swear and bite, T hear each smallest spat Until the sky is light I fear thy song, O Cat! Beware, thou Bedlamite! Beware, begone and sc Aroint thee, blatherskite I fear thy song, O Cat! K. L. Roberts Economy “Why, Bobbie, you have cleaned off the snow only in the most unimportant spots; why didn’t you do the rest?” “T was afraid that you couldn't afford to have the rest done. Few men look for an umbrella when greeted by a storm of applause. Even So China has returned to the monarchical form of government. But even so, Tenny- son would probably not say to-day: “ Better fifty years of Europe than a eycle of Cathay.” What He Said “So Grabum is after everything he can get. Did you say he was getting well off?” “Not exactly. [me remarked that he was getting off easily po Tom—Well. | ‘ve noticed face powder on Ned's shoulder, but never on Jim's. The Eternal Question The ingénue—Do you love me? The fiancte—Do you love me? The wife—Do you love me? The old maid—Do you love me? Diplomats * “Old Millyuns says that since he made his pile of money he feels like a neutral nation.” “Why is that?” “Because he has so many diplomatic re- lations.” lf it at eat i | pape ia HE WENT TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS comicbooks.com