Judge, 1918-04-13 · page 3 of 36
Judge — April 13, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem satirizes a man left stateside while others deploy militarily. The illustration shows soldiers marching toward boats while a figure remains behind, gesturing futilely. The speaker boasts of military service ("Islands," "Cuba," "Pekin to Honolulu"), but now watches others depart while he's sidelined—apparently due to a knee injury ("medico won't let me go, / For my right's off at the knee"). The satire targets the emotional conflict: his embarrassment at staying behind while displaying patriotic enthusiasm ("cheer and a hearty / 'Here, here!'") masks frustration at missing action. The title and subtitle ("As They're Headin' For Their Boat") emphasize his exclusion from military service, likely referencing early-20th-century American military engagements.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
By Owen B. WINTERS Illustration by F. L. Fivatan | ioe did my bit in the Islands, © And I sweated through Cuba, too. I’ve lugged a Krag behind the flag, From Pekin to Honoloo. ' And now when the band plays Dixie, And the dough-boys are steppin’ by, Makin’ the trip to the old troop-ship, | I’m a sour dough sort o’ guy. But I try to choke the lump down, That keeps risin’ in my throat, As I gulp out a cheer and a hearty “Here, here!’ : As they’re headin’ for their boat. Oh, it’s hard to stand on a curbstone, When the boys are off to sea, But the medico won’t let me go, For my right’s off at the knee. comicbooks.com