Judge, 1918-07-20 · page 9 of 32
Judge — July 20, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This WWI-era piece uses poultry as political allegory. The "pro-German" black rooster represents Germany or German influence, portrayed as a threat to American food conservation efforts during wartime. The U.S. Food Administration had implemented rationing programs, and the article sarcastically argues that roosters—whose fertile eggs spoil faster than infertile ones—are sabotaging these patriotic efforts. The satire presents eliminating roosters as a patriotic duty ("traitor to the cause of world-wide democracy"), mocking how wartime propaganda could mobilize citizens around minor domestic issues. The "little red hen" represents American agricultural productivity and loyalty. The top cartoon shows soldiers discussing a recruit's "wonderful progress in wiring class," likely referencing military training for WWI service. The lower illustration labeled "Illumination" depicts a Frenchman trying English phrases ("Gas-on!"), poking fun at linguistic confusion between allies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
— Ceseabisst ——— Goxvox Graxt STRINGING you write | ight you tell them you're making such wonderful progress ings of a gran tle piano tuner. Him in the wiring class that Phat Big Bisek Rooster By H. T": AT big black rooster is a pro-German. To the ax with him! Some of the myrmidons of the Food Administration charge that during the summer season, when hot is the sun, the chief business of Mr. High Cockalorum is the ruination of perfectly good food. When Cock-a-doodle-doo is tucked away in a hot pot-pie or a cold cold-storage warehouse, all is lovely. The eggs that come into this world of ours are in- fertile and loath to de- cay. The fertile egg, the wise ones say, the egg for which Mr. Rooster is beyond a doubt responsible, is the one that sends us pell-mell for the smell- ing salts and the am- monia bottle. Thus is the traitor exposed. We cannot possi- bly consider ourselves efficient food conser- vationists as long as we tolerate the rooster rh, that wandereth where Wai f 5 Draten by Ray Westover ILLUMINATION 0 Arrical in France Trying Some of His French—Gass-on! ‘No, sir, only the electric light. ~ Davis he listeth. His usefulness is ended when the incubator is full and a-heating. That instant he becomes a traitor to the cause of world-wide democracy. So we must send him packing. Not until next spring should even our poets rejoice in his clarion call as it echoes and reechoes over the rolling coun- tryside. Not until then should he pre- sume to strut before us with lordly air and be- speak our admiration. Let us patriotically en him up, cut off his Resa; or turn him over to the poultry man. The little red hen, the experts assure us, will care not a jot. With fine American fervor she will go on with the daily achievement of her original purpose, bless her heart. *Raus mit the big black rooster! Hail, all hail, little red hen! Gass-on! the comicbooks.com