Judge, 1918-02-23 · page 12 of 36
Judge — February 23, 1918 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces: **"The Gleaners" (Bottom Cartoon):** A WWI-era comic strip drawn by R.B. Fuller. Two British soldiers discuss why one is torturing a captured German soldier ("boche"). The twist: the soldier is seeking revenge because the German was a waiter in London who befriended him, borrowed money, seduced his wife ("Moll"), and disappeared with her. The dark humor hinges on the soldier "saving" this particular enemy for personal vengeance rather than military necessity—a commentary on how war intersects with private grievances. **"Typical Folks One Sees in Every Hotel Dining-Room" (Top Essay):** By Kenneth L. Roberts, this is social satire cataloging recognizable hotel dining room "types"—the insecure nouveau riche, anxious spouses, precocious children, the self-conscious man obsessed with his appearance, the phony sophisticate, and the homesick provincial. It's gentle satirical observation of American social behavior and class anxiety, typical of Judge's humor circa 1910s-1920s.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
es. “Wull, this is him as Hi were speakin’ of.” And Begg kicked the boche in the shin, doubling him up with pain. “We all lack love for the swine, Begg. But what is your particular animosity?” “My wat?” he particular cause of your rage.” “Wull, Hi’ll tell yer. Back in Lunnon Hi’ad a bit 0” ill luck. The fightin’? game wur slow like. Hi got to know im.” Begg glared at the boche. “’E wur a waiter at the Savoy. We met at two or three fights an’ becomes chummy like. ’E lent me a bob now an’ then. An’ that wurn’t so much, as’e’ad noendo’ tips. An’ Hi wur to pay ’im back. ’E'said as ‘ow ’e wur lonely like in Lunnon, bein’ a boche. They called em Germans then. An’ Hitakes pityon the rummy. Hi’adasnugplacein the East End an’ took ’im in. My rotten luck, mindjer, ’ noend. ’E allus’ad plenty. My Moll’ad a fancy for’ on that score, an’ one day Hi finds em both missin’.” “You have killed a lot of other boches.” “Righto.” “Then why didn’t you kil! him when you found him?” “Hi were savin’ ’im like.” “What for?” “Garn! Don’t Hi want to.find out where ’e’s ‘idin’ me wife?” Drawn by R. B. Furver Typical Folks One Sees in Every Hotel Dining-Room By Kexxetu L. Rowents HE man who looks as though he had been steal- ing sheep. The man who acts as though he owned the hotel. The big woman with the little husband whose atti- tude implies that he can whip the head waiter. The little woman with the big husband who appar- ently fears that somebody is about to kick him. The nervous, assured child whose evident belief in its own superiority makes everyone long to attack it with the rear of a hairbrush. The defiant man who obviously look cross~ at him. The individual who is painfully conscious of his hands, feet and Adam’s apple. The conceited ass who swaggers in seeing admiration in every when in reality everybody is longing to assault him with a water-carafe. The simple soul from Willowville who feels that the waiters are laughing at him, and wishes that he were back home. The man who thinks that he looks perfectly uncon- cerned and at home, but who doesn’t fool anyone. dares anyone to Tue Gieaners comicbooks.com