Judge, 1916-11-04 · page 9 of 32
Judge — November 4, 1916 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century urban society's disconnection from nature. The cartoons at top show a mother advising her son to "play the old time stuff with mothers help" — encouraging wholesome outdoor play as a courtship strategy to find a wife. The main essay by Arthur Chapman mocks city dwellers who've abandoned outdoor life. Chapman argues that modern architecture, indoor entertainment, and urban development have made people prefer artificial comforts (like bottled medicine) to fresh air. He notes ironically that outdoor enthusiasts actually live longer and healthier lives, yet society dismisses this as "plebeian." The piece suggests outdoors will eventually be legislated away entirely, replaced by indoor substitutes. Chapman's wit lies in presenting this dystopian future as inevitable given humanity's preferences — a commentary on industrialization and urbanization eroding traditional outdoor culture. The accompanying "Sinner's Diary" offers cynical observations on modern life, contrasting natural desires (eating fresh fruit) with artificial urban practices (decorating pianos with blossoms).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TF You FEEL ‘THAT 17'S ‘TIME YoU HAD A HOME YOUR, CHANCES ARE PASSING, ACT AGAPP INTO THE ONE You WANT BE Nice, BE NICE; PLAY THE STUPF — WITH MOTHERS HELP. cd toesen Luan. THe outdoors is a sadly overgrown place that has had a hard struggle for recognition. Ever since people began to live in caves, the outdoors has had the worst of it. Architects have out- done themselves in getting up designs of houses that will lure people away from the outdoors. Consequently about the only acquaintance with the outdoors that many pcople possess is two weeks in summer, thirteen and one-half days of which are spent in longing to get back indoors. dwellers have little in common with the outdoors. In y ely be said to have been more than intro- ed. A city dweller’s mental picture of an outdoor scene is along stretch of sky, composed mostly of smoke, with side drops of brick walls. The utter lack of reasoning power on the part of animals is shown in their foolish fondness for Outdoors. If they had a fractional part of man’s gift of sense, they would stay indoors most of the time. To be sure the few outdoor people that are left cat better, sleep better, laugh more and live longer than the rest of humanity, but such things are counted rather plebcian Pan is the god of the outdoors, but he finds business very Poor, and some day he is going to die of lonesomeness. Steam THE OUTDOORS By ARTHUR pipes, and not the pipes of Pan, make the merry music in most ears. Doctors are constantly prescribing the outdoors as medicine, but people seem to prefer the kind that is bought indoors in bottles. Eventually no doubt the outdoors will be abolished through legislation. Something of an indoor nature will be substituted for it. Just at present the outdoors is tolerated because it seems to be the handiest place in which men can make war. CHAPMAN From A Sinner’s Diary OME is the soul's legs, love its wings. both broken! 'Twon’t seem long after it’s over. I know a woman who wants fruit, yet she picks it all while in blossom to deck the piano half a day. We'll think of you kindly when you're dead, whether you deserve it or not. It’s a good thing we don’t know the grades ahead of us! We'd have more blowouts than we do now. I've got such a canker that when I say anything smart Ican't grin. Lalways grin first, most; soon as I hear it inside. It must make parents fcel old to see their children dying of old age. Most anybody can spell wedlock, but it keeps some of ’em humping to pronounce it. —Lynette Freemire. Woe when they're comicbooks.com