Judge, 1916-06-17 · page 8 of 28
Judge — June 17, 1916 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a rural gossip column presented as humorous local news from a fictional small town called "Lazytown." The satire targets small-town life and its petty concerns through absurdist anecdotes: **Key jokes:** - A postmaster playing cards during work hours mistakes a government inspector for a robber - Residents obsess over trivial matters: mice in homes, haircuts, mice again, towel-cleaning before food inspections - Rural dialect and names ("Slim Pickens," "Poke Eazley") mock rustic stereotypes - A woman stockpiling face powder suggests vanity/preparedness anxiety - Sidebar jokes include a man's stiff shirt preventing singing and a woman asking if her boyfriend will miss her (he won't know until she's gone) **The satire's point:** Small-town life consists of meaningless gossip, petty concerns, and absurd logic. The exaggerated earnestness of reporting these non-events as "news" ridicules both rural communities and small-town newspapers that printed such content. The illustration of formally-dressed townspeople reinforces the contrast between their pretensions and their trivial preoccupations.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE Postmaster uses every precaution against robbers at all times of the and night, and so far has been robbed but a very few times, Ashortwhile ago, he grew suspicious while en- gaged in a game of seven-up for a jug of lic- ker, in the front end of the post of- fice, when he heard somebody fingering around in the back end, and as soon as he had played his hand he made an inves- tigation, and found that the intruder was only a post office inspector that had come in the back way. day 2 e mice have got to be so bad at s home he has decided that it is no longer safe for him to sleep with his + mouth open 2 Yam Sims went to the blacksmith shop Saturday and had Dock Hocks to cut his hair up as far as his hat. 2 Fearing an unexpected visit of the pure food inspector last week the editor of the Tickville Tidings set his office towel out the back door. ¢ The cracks in the bridge across Gimlet creek have been stopped up, as Slim Pickens is expected to cross there this week * Miss Rosy Moseley evidently beli preparedness as she was seen to re large consignment of face powder this week. 2 Jefferson Potlocks, who has been living ‘on the public road for several years, and has Lazytown Local News By GEORGE BINGHAM succeeded in seeing nearly everybody that passed, has come to the conclusion that people are very much alike the world over, about the only difference being that some are going one way and some another, and some travel slow and some fast. 2 Luke Mathewsla has figured out how much he has saved in neckties during the past twenty years by wearing long whiskers. 2 Sidney Hocks went to the singing on Musket Ridge Saturday night but could not sing bass as he had on his stiff-bosom shirt. s Ellick Hellwanger’s feet were seen pointing in the direction of the Calf Ribs Widow last Sunday. Look out, Ellic 2 Atlas Peck is fixing to spend a week of enjoyment and quietude, provided his wife carries out her plans by spending the week with her folks at Bounding Billows. Fletcher Henstep, leader of the Excelsior Fiddling Band, and a musician of note, was heard yesterday criticising the music that is being made by the spring frogs in the Gander creek bottoms. He says what would he do? a frog never was cut out Sapley—I have for a musician, do myself. He Thought Not Irchie—Il made the acquaintance of $ vening. she is a girl who will wear? Not much, The Idea Didn't Kill Him, Anyway She—Would you miss me if I went away for a few weeks’ visit? Hubby—How can I tell until after you go? Villa may be near Parral, but his running gear is nowhere near paralysis. Maybelle—Suppose Bonaparte commanded the armies of France now— no ideah: In fact, I hawdly know what I would —_——_— comicbooks.com