Judge, 1918-07-20 · page 12 of 32
Judge — July 20, 1918 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era satirical humor reflecting American home-front concerns circa 1917-1918. **"A Summer Idyl"** mocks wartime scarcity: Mr. McNutt desperately seeks ice during a heatwave, eventually paying an ice-man an inflated dollar for a single block—the vendor exploiting shortages for profit. The satire targets both hoarding/profiteering and civilian desperation. **"Self-Sacrificing"** jokes about wartime conservation efforts (referenced to Hoover's food-conservation campaign). A family discusses cutting luxuries; when asked what she'll sacrifice, a daughter says "paper dolls"—humor derived from her innocent misunderstanding of adult sacrifice. **"The Submerged Fifth"** and **"The Big Job"** reference wartime labor shortages: plumbers and essential workers enlisted, leaving civilians unable to perform basic home repairs—suggesting middle-class dependency on working-class services. **"Draft Officer"** cartoon (bottom right) depicts military recruitment/conscription, showing a draftee claiming weak eyesight to avoid service. Overall, these pieces satirize civilian wartime inconveniences, profiteering, and labor shortages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
There was a prayer in McNutt’s tone. “Mebbe. Where do you live?” Grunted the other, Reaching for the hard water. And when the ice had been Deposited in his refrigerator, MeNutt paid the ice-man His crinkly, little, green dollar. “Tt was your ice anyhow,” Explained he of the wistaria complexion, As he pocketed the bill. “You ordered a dime’s worth This morning, you know, An’ I was just bringin’ it in to you.” Self-Sacrificing THE family of three were discussing ways and means of saving war money, and doing their bit toward food conservation. One thing and then another was mentioned which could be cut out, to all of which little Margaret was paying strict heed while busy with her scissors cutting out paper dolls from magazines. The mother said to the father, “You can cut out cigars, can’t you?” “Well, er ) —turning to Margaret, “what will you cut out, little daughter?” The answer came quick, “ Paper dolls.” Draven by Har Burrows The Submerged Fifth “How did you like your slumming trip?” “I didn’t mind it. You see I'm used to walking A Summer Idyl on Fifth Avenue.” By Harvey Peake The Big Job T seemed to be iceless day, Mercy—I hear our only plumber has gone to the front Although Mr. Hoover hadn't said so. Percy—Deah me. What on carth shall we do in case The thermometer was there is a leak in the pipes? Considerably over the hundred mark, Mercy— But don’t you know how to turn the water off? And the refrigerator at the Percy Oh, I suppose so; but fawncy having to do it! Ivory McNutt homestead Was fast becoming a fireless cooker. If ice was not forthcoming soon It would contain One baked chicken, One dozen hard-boiled eggs, And two quarts of stewed berries. Mr. McNutt had telephoned To six places for ice, But none was to be had. Just before noon he started out To find this necessity Or perish in the attempt. When he reached the corner He met an ice-man. There was one block of ice In his wagon. “Tl give you a quarter for that,” Called McNutt. “Can't do it, boss, it’s sold,” Responded the purple-faced ice-man. “Tl make it fifty cents,” Continued he Of the iceless and fireless furniture. “Nothin’ doin’.””. This from the purveyor Of the cold stuff. Drawn by Ropxey Thomson “Will a dollar interest you?” Draft Officer (to Binks, who claims weak eyesight)—Here! Can you read this? comicbooks.com