Judge, 1917-05-05 · page 29 of 30
Judge — May 5, 1917 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is primarily **advertising for O. Henry and Kipling book collections**, but frames them around a satirical story premise. The cartoon depicts a convict addressing a judge, claiming he was imprisoned for four years and called a "rattlesnake." His daughter died from poverty and shame while he was incarcerated. Now freed, he's threatening revenge against the judge—specifically warning him to experience the loss of his own daughter. **The satire's point**: The story ironically uses melodramatic social commentary about injustice and poverty to *advertise* O. Henry's works, which the ad claims excel in "human sympathy, in pity and understanding." By opening with this dark tale of a vengeful criminal, Judge magazine cleverly ties the narrative to O. Henry's reputation for depicting common people's struggles with dignity and pathos. The ad emphasizes O. Henry's massive sales (1.6 million copies in the US) and universal appeal—he's beloved "on the street" and by university professors alike. The competing Kipling collection is also promoted below. This is essentially clickbait-era advertising disguised as satirical storytelling.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Judge! When you sent me up for four years, you called me a rattlesnake. Maybe I am one —anyhow, you hear me rattling now. One year after I got to the pen, my daughter died of —well, they said it was poverty and the disgrace together. You’ve got a daughter, Judge, and I’m going to make you know how it feels to lose one. I’m_ free and I guess I’ve turned to rattlesnake all right. Look Yours respectfully, RATTLESNAKE. now, out when I strike. This is the beginning of one of the stories by Send Coupon for the 12 Volumes, 274 Stories The man on the street loves him; the university professor pays him homage. The sale of O. Henry will O. HENRY Up—up—up goes the sale of O. Henry, higher and higher every day. Long ago he reached high above all records in the world for the sale of short sto- ries. And still the sales climb until soon there will be no home without O. Henry. 1,600,000 already in the United States! How many thousands in Australia, France, England, Ger- many, Africa, and Asia we cannot tell. And all because O. Henry is among the few very greatest in all literature—greatest in humor, human sympathy, in pity and understanding. KIPLING {voters 179 Stories Before the war started Kipling easily held place as the first of living writers. pirit of war, not only the spirit of E than ever. For in his pages is the very Short 45 1 Stories 2 Long Novels O. Henry 12 volumes bound fn green silk cloth. and ‘old tops: illus- 274 complete stories: one Tong novel. ness of death, and the beating today in the trenches. The Ta! diers fought as naked as they were bor today with a few clothes on, and “Gunga Din’ of plain men in battle and reread them, send them back at our expense. war, but the spirit of all war regardless of nation or fag i rt of courage. of Lungtungpen, when the British sol- "" recalls the deathless heroism go on forever, for his is a quality that is undying. But the sale at this low price must soon be over. So now, while you can, get your set. You must have O. Henry if your library is to be complete. You must have O. Henry if you are to get out of life ,” the beauty and fun it holds. You ,” can have his work at half price ¢ if you send the coupon today; ,/’ you can have, besides Pa REVIEW GIVEN &s ¢ COMPANY Now we know him to be greater alii Judge 55-17 7 30 teving Place, N.Y. 4 Sead me on approval, charges paid by you. Go Hieary Fi works ints volumes, gold “tops set cl Kiching 111 keep the the lust of fight, the erim- “Tommy Atkins” is dying sa hint'of what they may d fer hg monn for theo, Henry wt Without charge. | Otherwise 1 Si, “withia: tem daye, return. bot ects at your empetee. Send Coupon Without Money and the two sets of books, 18 volumes. will go to you promptly, all charges prepaid. If they are not the best you ever read. if you do not read them If vou ate not proud to have'them on vour library shelves, send them back. But send coupon today. It puts you under no obligation. It Send it today before offer closes Review of Reviews Co., 30 Irving Place, N. Y. 7. gives you no tr proved a fav change above to $1.$0.a month for 15 mont comicbooks.com