Judge, 1918-05-11 · page 5 of 36
Judge — May 11, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article by Roy K. Moulton, illustrated by Albert Hencke, mocks scientific predictions about when World War I will end. The piece critiques Prof. Emmanuel Bibbs, who claims to have calculated the exact war end-date (March 21, 1919) using mathematical analysis of fats, potash, and other resources. The cartoons show Bibbs as a befuddled academic making absurdly specific predictions based on obscure data like "blood pressure of hogs" and "average annual rainfall." Dr. Lemuel Fink counters that potash—not complex calculations—determines war duration. The satire ridicules wartime pseudo-scientific "certainty" about unknowable outcomes. Published while WWI raged, it captures public frustration with experts claiming to predict an unpredictable conflict.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Volume 74 Founded 1881 “THE HAPPY eMEDIUM” $5.00 a Year Number 1908 New York, May 11, 1918 Published Weekly When the War wi Pror. Bisas nas tue Dura- tiox or THe War_ Aut Nicery Ficurep Our By Roy K. Moutron Illustrations by AtBert HENCKE HE question most fre- quently asked throughout the world to- day is: “When will the Great War end?” But if anybody is really desirous of knowing, the answer is easily obtained. As a matter of fact each person may pick out the exact date to suit himself. The writing scientists who believe in the slogan to the effect that it pays to advertise are ending the war continually. A scientist of this sort is a person who can end a war at any time which best suits his convenience. Select your own peace day at leisure. Prof. Emmanuel Bibbs, A.M., Ph.D., F.O. B., the eminent scientist of Ho- kum College has the dura- tion of the war all nicely figured out incalories, kilo- watts, amperes, cubic in- ches, longitude, latitude, blood pressure and average annual rainfall. In a learned article in the Pt dantic Monthly, he says: “TheGreat Warwill end at 2:15 P.M., March 21, 1919. Napoleon was wrong when he said wars were won with money. Wars are won with fats. Wars have changed since Na- poleon’s time. Now we hear nothing of money but everything of fats. When an army is out of fats, there is nothing to do but surrender. I have care- fully analyzed the present and future supply of fats in Germany, figuring the latitude and longitude, the blood pressure of the hogs and sheep and the average annual rainfall in the Teutonic countries and I am prepared to say that the last soldier will con- sume the last calory of fat at the exact moment men- tioned.” Those who are not pleased with Prof. Bibbs’ prediction can turn to the findings of Dr. Lemuel Fink, the eminent geolo- gist who is the world’s au- thority on potash. Others may know of perlmutter but the doctor stands alone as an expert on potash. He says: “Wars cannot be fought without potash. It is the prime necessity. Nations may run out of ll End Dr. Fixx ts THe Wortp’s Av- THoRITY oN Potasu— Nort Pertmutrer comicbooks.com