Judge, 1917-02-10 · page 16 of 28
Judge — February 10, 1917 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early automotive culture and the outlaw mythology surrounding it. The comic strip features "Broncho Billy," likely referencing the popular Western film character, purchasing a racecar he intends to ship to his ranch. The subsequent panels show him joyride recklessly across the countryside, culminating in police pursuit—the "Whoopee!" and "Durned!!!" captions capturing the thrill-seeking and lawlessness of early motorists. The surrounding humor pieces reflect Jazz Age anxieties: the poem "Shackled" expresses frustration with civilized restraints; "A Similarity" compares curious townspeople to nosy penguins; "High Cost of Giving" and other shorts mock dating expenses and social pretension. Together, the page captures 1920s concerns about automobile-fueled recklessness, urbanization's social constraints, and the era's shifting class and gender norms—women's "scanty skirts," expensive dining, and matrimonial negotiations all featuring prominently.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ean as amet 1. Broncho Billy—I'll take that there one. Ship it to my ranch tomorrow. 7. Got me that time. didn’t ye? But— POLICE! Shackled WISH I weren't civilized. I'd roam at large all undisguised And paint myself with green and red And wear some feathers on my head. I'd loaf and fish and take my ease Or run and howl and pull up trees. I'd kick convention in the slats And rend my foolish clothes and hats. I'd burn my house with all its junk. To counsels wise I'd answer: “ Punk!" I'd lay aside all pomp and show And scalp some people that I know. Yet I must act day after day In a discreet and proper way And talk of form and cubist art And wear the things considered smart And look as meek as Abner’s cow And say “Indeed!” and “Really now!"” When, all the while, I long to be A roaring savage wild and free! Walter G. Doty. There are times when we all might be just a little foolish, if it were not so much easier to be inordinately foolish. 8. I'll be— A Similarity «PEN 5 have an abundance of in- quisitiveness,” didactically stated Professor Pate, ‘Sailors tell us that a man coming upon a congregation of penguins will, if he stands still, be sur- rounded by the birds, who will walk with dignity up to him and stand in a ring all around him, eagerly eying him and gabbling to each other about him. If you care to reproduce the scene of the man and the penguins, stop in front of the post-office the next time you are in the hamlet of Wayoverbehind, and observe the inhabitants sizing you up.” Brass Tacks He—But, my angel— His wife—One moment, please—is that a hope or a compliment? Unreasonable Prudery Miss Mary wears a scanty. skirt That has no chance to gather dirt; But silly prudes are blaming Mary For wishing to be sanitary. (GUNSHOT SPEEDSTER NO. 9. Durned !!! 108329, A Rose in Winter H® "ES were pools of limpid blue, The least bit tilted was her nose; She seemed to thrill me through and through, Poetic fancy dubbed her, Rose She said she'd dine quite readily, Her appetite was in its prime. I paid the gorgeous bill. Ah me! .\ rose comes high in wintertime. —Will H. Hendrickson. High Cost of Giving “The cheapest thing in the world is said the Parlor Philosopher. unless you happen to take it,’ replied the Mere Man, “and then some- times it costs a lot.” Force of Circumstances “So you want to become my son-in- law, ch?” demanded the stern parent. “I suppose I'll have to be if I marry your daughter,” replied the suitor. The poor man’s objection to the idle rich is that he cannot be one of them. comichooksxey it)