Judge, 1918-06-22 · page 2 of 36
Judge — June 22, 1918 — page 2: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the declining value of American currency during what appears to be the early 20th century. The advertisement humorously proposes that one dollar—nearly worthless for practical purchases—is only useful as a subscription payment to *Judge* magazine for three months. The cartoon depicts three figures: a bride (labeled "Judge"), a groom in striped clothing, and a tall personified dollar sign acting as minister, "tying up" the marriage. The accompanying text laments inflation, noting that dollars once bought sandwiches or handkerchiefs but have become so valueless that readers should simply send their remaining dollars to *Judge* rather than hoard them. This is mock-serious advertising disguised as economic commentary, exploiting public frustration with currency devaluation to promote magazine subscriptions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
for three months A dollar is not much use any more, anyway. It was possible at one time to get a pretty good sandwich or a fairly good handkerchief for a dollar, but those days are gone. Bell-boys used to be satisfied—at least not insulted—with a dollar tip, but a man had better not go back toa hotel where he has offered a bell-boy a dollar, these days. Hardly anybody is even both- ering to save dollars, now, though the very best families thought it worth while, not many years ago. About the only use left for a dollar is in connection with that offer that the publishers of Judge have carelessly left open — three months of Judge for a dollar bill. Probably that is what will be- come of all the remaining dollars. If you have a dollar, it would be a good thing to send it to Judge without delay—while you have it— for the government will probably decide the dollar is too unimportant to issue in the future. ‘The dollar you have now may be the last one you will ever have—so send it to Judge at once. the nation’s perpetual smileage book