Judge, 1917-06-23 · page 27 of 28
Judge — June 23, 1917 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **publisher's advertisement** by Harper & Brothers, not a political cartoon. It promotes a 25-volume collected edition of Mark Twain's works. The page contrasts Twain's **evolution as a writer**: his early works (*Huckleberry Finn*, *The Innocents Abroad*) brought laughter, but later works like *Joan of Arc* revealed him as a serious literary artist—a "poet," "historian," and "seer" capable of addressing life's tragedies with "whimsical humor." The illustration shows a man reading contentedly, emphasizing the intimate act of engaging with Twain's work. **The sales pitch:** Wartime paper shortages have driven up costs. This "last of the edition" is being offered at the pre-war contract price—a time-sensitive deal urging readers to order immediately via coupon. The advertisement appeals to patriotic ownership ("Every American has got to have a set") while exploiting scarcity economics to drive sales.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
June 23, 1917 alary, sband imes, Is for arsh- City r fac cost ECALL that golden day when you Finn” you will not laugh so much. You first read “Huck Finn’? How — will chuckle often, but you will also your mother said, ‘For goodness’ sake, want to weep. The deep humanity of stop laughing aloud over that book. it—the pathos, that you never saw, as ai You sound so silly.” But you couldn’t a boy, will appeal to you now. You were : stop laughing. too busy laughing to notice the limpid oe To-day when you read “Huckleberry purity of the master’s style. , the ried M A R K I \ ’ A | N oston When Mark Twain first wrote “Huckleberry Finn” this land was swept with a gale of laughter. When he wrote “The Innocents Abroad” even Europe laughed at it itself. em But one day there appeared a new book from his pen, so spiritual, so truc, so lofty, that those who did not know him were well amazed. “Joan of Arc’? was the work of a poet—a historian—a seer. Mark ‘ali Twain was all of these. His was not the light laughter of a moment’s fun, but the whimsical humor that made the tragedy of life more bearable. City A Real American The Price Goes Up Mark Twai mboat pilot. He was a searcher for far west. He wa printer. rly hard NOVELS STORIES HUMOR from mith He workot barely tant MST D2 VOLUMES essays TRAVEL HISTORY my Then, with the opening of the great wide West This is Mark Twain’s own set. This is the set he wanted in the home of each his g of those who love him. Because he asked it, Harpers have worked to make a hrough the nation . mil rth, until) rs perfect set at half price. Before the war we had a contract price for paper, so we could sell this set of ight to the high places.” ere ; phe bat Sl Mis aeey Mark Twain at half price. but though 60 years H PI Mr ok, est aid every cent Ke Send Coupon—No Money HARPER, & at drew him close to Franklin Sq. 25 \cesae Wises The last of the edition isin sight. The price of paper has gone up. New York | sked is there eric - ‘naar ja Cit. There never again will be any more Mark Twain at the present price. ssed : i d Get the 25 volumes now, while you can. i Every American has got to have a set of Mark Twain jee home. Get yours now and save money. F. You want him. Send the coupon today—now—while ju you are looking at it. comicbooks.com (UM