Judge, 1917-08-18 · page 11 of 28
Judge — August 18, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1917 satirical page from Judge magazine contains multiple short humor pieces mocking contemporary social issues: **"His Narrow Escape"** features dialect humor about a Black character's illness—typical of early 20th-century stereotypical portrayal. **"Amended Scripture"** satirizes wartime labor shortages by rewriting Biblical passages to encourage agricultural work during WWI. **The marriage jokes** mock domestic discord and nagging wives—common misogynistic humor of the era. **"Binks, the pacifist"** appears to ridicule anti-war sentiment during America's WWI involvement, contrasting the pacifist's wilderness retreat with patriotic military spirit. **"Formal Garb Waived"** jokes about newly conscripted soldiers, referencing WWI military conscription. **"The Wife-Beater"** cartoon's title uses period slang for an undershirt, playing on double meaning—reflecting casual attitudes toward domestic violence. The page reflects 1917 American attitudes: pro-war sentiment, racial stereotyping, and dismissive treatment of women's concerns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Sty Ses His Narrow Escape “AL, Bulginback!” sympathetically saluted the colonel. “I under- stand that you have been ill?” “Yassah! Yassah! And mightily "bleeged to yo’ for de ’terrygation, sah. I sho’ was a pow’ful sick pusson. I was took sudden in de night wid a gropin’ pain in muh abandon, and for a spell I ‘lowed I was gwine to die right dar widout de aid of a phy: n. But de doctah done come atter a while, and by de he’p o’ de Lawd and some scan'lous tastin’ medicine I was deprived of muh _re- covery.” Amended Scripture—1917 Version “Ho every one that thirsteth”; and he that doesn’t want to hunger might do a little hocing also. Wanted, a Bill of Particulars He—Your husband fond of the weed? She—Which variety do you mean— tobacco—widows—or garden? Binks, the pacifist, arrives at the wilderness camp, where he has gone to get away from the military spirit. Reasoning with Daughter He—Oh, pshaw, tell her that no girl ever marries the first idiot that asks her. She—I did. away libraries better. You see, none of the beneficiaries of my farming will stand for the upkeep. He—Well, what does she say to that? She—She says I married you. Formal Garb Waived Barkeep—Can’t serve you in uniform, gents. Conscript Newman, U. S. A.— Serve ’em up in your shirt-sleeves for all wecare, old hoss! Presto Changeo! UPID'S full of trickery, Let me now impart; Quick at slight-of-hand is he, And at slight-of-heart! —Harold Susman. Comparative Advantages Neighbor—Well, how do you like farming? Back to Natureist—I like giving THE WIFE-BEATER comicbooks.com