Judge, 1917-10-13 · page 21 of 28
Judge — October 13, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily a **charitable advertisement**, not satire. Dated during America's involvement in World War I, it promotes "Judge's Trench Christmas"—a fundraising campaign by the magazine to send care packages to American soldiers fighting in France. The appeal uses patriotic language ("Over There," referencing the famous WWI song) and emotional appeals to encourage civilian donations. For fifty cents, donors could send a one-dollar care package containing practical items: cigarettes, matches, chewing gum, talcum powder, and stationery. The kits included reply postcards so soldiers could thank donors personally—emphasizing the "personal" connection between home and front. The illustrations show Santa in a trench and soldiers in combat, visualizing the contrast between Christmas celebration and wartime conditions. The American Defense Society's endorsement lends official legitimacy. This represents typical WWI-era morale-building and home-front fundraising efforts marketed through popular magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘October 13, 1917 Ber x y's m7 ‘ oon Christmas ‘“‘Over There’’ You would like to make Christmas merrier for an American soldier boy in France, wouldn't you ? Well, you can! You would like to send him a personal gift and get his acknowledgment, wouldn't you ? . You can, thanks to— Judge’s Trench Christmas For American Boys Abroad A plan, authorized by the United States Government, endorsed by the United States Army and assisted by the AMERICAN DEFENSE SOCIETY which makes it possible for you to send a Christmas kit containing one dollar’s worth of articles selected by experts—practical comforts and little luxuries—to an American soldier abroad, for fifty cents, exactly half what it would cost retail. THE KIT WILL CONTAIN: 1 box of Medicated Talcum Powder 1 pk. Black Jack Chewing Gum 1 pk. Playing Cards 1 pk. Pepsin Chewing Gum 1 pk. Cigarettes 1 pk. Lime Tablets 1 pk. Smoking Tobacco 1 pk. Mints 2 boxes Matches 1 Pencil, Stationery Because of the generosity of the manufacturers, you can send two gifts for the price one would cost in the stores. And the present is personal. In each package the donor may place his personal card and each package will contain a reply postal so that the soldier whom you gave a happier holiday can thank you for it. Checks should be made payable to Leslie- Judge Company and addressed to Judge's Trench Christmas Fund, 225 Fifth Ave., New York City comicbooks.com