Judge, 1918-11-16 · page 9 of 32
Judge — November 16, 1918 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page from *Judge* contains philosophical humor about what makes doctors popular, plus brief military jokes. The main article "Why Is a Popular Doctor?" presents a Socratic dialogue debunking the assumption that popularity correlates with medical competence. The satirical point: a doctor's popularity actually depends on pleasing friends and social charm rather than skill or clinical excellence—a critique of how reputation, not merit, drives professional success. The illustrations include a military map cartoon labeled "Road to Berlin" (likely WWI-era, given the reference), and two brief joke panels about soldiers. "Half-Past Surrender" makes a dark joke about German military collapse. "Sweet Reasonableness" satirizes the idea that businessmen lack government aptitude because they haven't "unlearned" their commercial habits. The satire targets both medical gatekeeping and wartime politics through absurdist humor typical of *Judge*'s irreverent style.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Why Is, a Popular Doctor? By Te se OW do you know a good doctor?” “Why, by his popularity, of course.” » CHEeNevix that the same “Certainly it is the same. Decision of the majority is the surest you can know.” “Well, what ge thi this decision—medical skill?” Not necessarily. Guess again.” “Magnetic —personal- itv?” . No. Some of us don’t care for magnetism.” “The physician’s cherry manner? His abil- ity to scare you into being sicker, so that you can get better because he says so? His optimism as an accom- plished liar, telling you you are not sick unless you think so, and to get right up and take a trip to Cuba?” ROAD TO BERLIN ». You are off the track. You are fairly good guessing, and so ap- proach the truth, but sull vou quite miss the point. Remember, all great truths are extremely — simple ‘Truth is never as compli- cated as our: ways and Often it is commonplac “Axiomatic, | suppose.’ “Precisely. “Kindly enlighten me, then, on the reason for fessional popularity.” “Very well. The popular doctor is not one of pres- at Drown by G. Vax Wenvesy T Wit methods of getting at it. pro- Ficur It Our on what would you like, dear? Tus Live ap tr Taxes Aue NENT Summer! ence, deportment, optimism, ostentation, nor even of skill, but he is one who spends only a small share of his energies on his paticnt— “Hold! I have it! A popular doctor is one who always succeeds perfectly in pleasing friends!” “Right! And a very accurate observer are.” you Half-Past Surrender Private Jones of Hoboken —Say, Casey, what time is it by the watch on the Rhine? Private Casey of Brooklyn— Retirin’ time, me bye, retirin’ time! Sweet Reasonableness ‘Here’s an article that says business men donot make good government officials.” “Why should they? You can’t expect them all at once to unlearn all they how you give orders. know.” comicbooks.com