Judge, 1917-08-18 · page 10 of 28
Judge — August 18, 1917 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several short satirical pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines: **"The Power of Imagination"** (left): An illustration shows a figure gazing at an idealized vision, satirizing human tendency to fantasize rather than face reality. **Short humor pieces** (center-right): These include racist dialect jokes featuring "Rastus" (a stereotypical Black character common in period humor), playing on themes of marriage costs and marital regret. The "Respect" joke mocks rural Arkansas life. **"Bowling Green" poem**: A nostalgic celebration of the New York City bowling alley, capturing recreational leisure culture. **"Wisdom" poem (by Ted Robinson)**: Uncle Enoch dispenses folk philosophy about virtue requiring *action*, not mere abstinence—a Progressive-era moral message emphasizing active goodness over passive avoidance of sin. **Final recruiting joke**: A serviceman's ten-year tenure with a wealthy woman (Mrs. Ponsonby de Symthe) is presented as military "service," wordplay mocking domestic servitude. The page reflects Judge's blend of sentimental Americana, period-typical racial stereotyping, and social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Warning Undecided In the general desire to swat the Friend—Did you marry well? Kaiser, we must not forget his Rastus—Y essah. fellow pests, the mosquito and the Friend—What is your wife worth? fly. Rastus—Ah dunno. It dun cost me five dollahs to marry her, but Ah ain’t been married long enough to know whether Ah got stung or not. This Is-ness Business T isn’t what he says or does; It's rot what wealth is his; Not what he will be or he was, But what he doggone I Defined —Strickland Gillilen. “Pop, what is a lullaby?” “A lullaby, my son, is something that Real Sorrow keeps a whole neighborhood awake while He—Somebody has pulled up putting one kid to sleep.” the beans! Ske—Oh, John—not bothof them? New York City Nursery Rhymes 1 Respect BOWLING GREEN by Lovls now “Do your children respect you?” “You betcha!” replied Mr. Gap HE skies are bright, the clouds are | Johnson, of Rumpus Ridge, Ark. clean, “They never think of jumping onto That hang above the Bowling Green. } me except in a mob of about six cr ait tonetbee” The lads are limber, lasses strong, That play at ten-pins all day long. Too Late And what a laughter in the air, Sillicus—We never hear the best When anybody makes a spare! + things that are said about us. 4 Cynicus—No; we are dead then. ike! And what huzza’ing, love o When anybody makes a strike! =, The Only One Who Can Waaselea’ — Mrs. Hubbubs—Wouldn’t it be fine : “+ to be able to do exactly as we please? paciite = 2 Mrs. Subbubs— indeed. I The skies are bright, the clouds are clean, | THE POWER OF IMAGINATION _ wonder how it feels to be a cook. That hang above the Bowling Green. WISDOM By TED ROBINSON NY Y UNCLE ENOCH holds it true It’s jest as much important To do the things we'd orter do As shun the things we'd ortn’t. He says, says he, ‘ My boy, if we Learn to refrain from sinnin’, We ain’t half done—although,” And what astonishment and bliss, When anybody makes a miss! “We've made a good beginnin “Not bein’ bad ain’t bein’ good— Wages is theirs that earns it; Aman y he’s sawin’ wood | Jest ‘cause he never burns it * He says, says he, “Le Be strickly on The Devil work: Must work to beat the devil!” 's you an’ me “A man can’t be no temperance saint By merely not a-drinkin’, It’s acts that are, not deeds that ain’t, That sets the world to thinkin’.” He says, says he: “Take this from me, And sin’Il never hurt you— If you're too nice to scrap with vice, You've got no chance fer virtue! Por stfyons . Lots of people guess again after they Recruiting offcer—Have you seen service? have already guessed right. Jenkins—Oh, yes, sir, ten years with Mrs. Ponsonby de Symthe, sir, comicbooks.com