Judge, 1918-11-16 · page 5 of 32
Judge — November 16, 1918 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Dialogues of a Blithesome Boob" This satirical piece by Arthur C. Brooks mocks an American who recently returned from London and won't stop talking about his trip. The "Blithesome Boob" (the seated man) interrogates the traveler about air raids during World War II, likely referencing the German Luftwaffe's bombing campaign against Britain. The joke centers on the returnee's boastful anecdotes—he witnessed bombing, met a German pilot named Oswald Jinx, and experienced gas attacks. The Boob's exasperated questions ("Have we air raids and everything?") suggest the American is either exaggerating wildly or being insufferably pedantic about his experiences. The satire targets both wartime tourists who dramatize themselves and Americans' tendency toward self-important bragging about foreign travel.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Tuey Terr Me You Have Just Returnep From Lonpon” The Dialogues of a Blithesome Boob He Discusses Air Raids with the Man from London By Artuur C. Brooks Illustrated by Witrrep Jones HE Man Who Had Just Come from London relaxed in a luxurious armchair and pre- pared to enjoy an American newspaper. He had only turned the first page when the Blithesome Boob came up and grinned fraternizingly. “Oh,” said the Man Who Had Just Come from London, “I thought you were dead.” “Nope,” returned the Blithesome Boob. “ But, they tell me you have just returned from London.” “Yes,” admitted the other wearily. “Well, say, tell me about it “Te’s still there,” said the Man Who Had Just Come from London. “But, listen,” said the Blithesome Boob, “did you have air raids and everything?” “Oh, yes; several,” said the other. “Were they exciting?” urged the Blithesome Boob, “describe The Man Who Had Just Come from London took a deep breath, and lit a cigar resignedly. “Well,” he commenced, “the Germans have a new gas-bomb now, called Differential Gas. New chemical they’ve discovered—H202, Dif X. You see, it only affects obnoxious peopl bores. Normal people are immune. Quite convenient, too. Why, one day I was on the Strand with Lord Something and we met my tailor, whom I owed for a fourteen-dollar suit. He came running toward us waving a bill. Just then a Hun flier dropped one of these new gas-bombs right at the poor fellow’s fect. Well, that tailor turned three shades of green, worked his limbs like a jumping- jack, dived head first into a rubbish box, quivered a bit and lay still. Quite considerate of Heinie.’ “Really!” exclaimed the Blithesome Boob. “How interesting!” “Yes,” went on the Man Who Had Just Come from London, “but a strange thing occurred a day or two afterward. I was talking with an awful worm; I called him the American Bore. He knew I had come from this country, and was forever pestering me about what was going on here. Well, a German aviator came zooming along and started throwing bombs at him. But somehow they didn’t seem to take any effect. They fell all about him, and a few hit his head and bounced off, exploding in the air. But the pest kept right on grinning and asking questions in the sign language, it Was so noisy. “Well, that F: tz was frantic with rage. It was probably the first time his bombs had failed him. Above the roar of his propeller I could hear him sobbing in sheer exasperation. At last, when he had fired them ever reached “rity, all off, he turned and flew away. If he his own lines safely, I'll bet he committed suicide is very touchy that way.” “You don’t mean it!” said the Blithesome Boob di lightedly. “But, say, listen. What was the man’s name “His name? Let’s see. Oh, yes! Jinx.” “Jinx!” exclaimed the Blithesome Boob. “Not Oswald!” * confirmed the other. said the Blithesome Boob happily, “Why, say, “he’s my brother! “Oh,” said the Man Who Had Just Come from he again took up his paper. London, pointedly, “That explains it! comicbooks.com