Judge, 1918-12-28 · page 21 of 33
Judge — December 28, 1918 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Judge* presents racist humor typical of early 20th-century American satire. The content relies on crude ethnic stereotypes and dialect caricature. **The Main Cartoon** ("Germania's Vain Dream") depicts a grotesque figure representing Germany feasting amid chaos—likely WWI-era political commentary on German imperial ambitions, though the image's crude style obscures precise details. **"Darkyisms" Section**: A collection of jokes featuring African American characters (Rastus, Sam, Uncle Mose) speaking in exaggerated dialect. The humor trades on racial stereotypes: one joke contrasts "heaven" (hard labor) with hell (easier work), playing on racist assumptions about Black workers. Another features an elderly Black man struggling with simple arithmetic regarding postage stamps. **Other Jokes**: Generic period humor about rabbit's feet, mother-in-laws, and heredity—unrelated to the racial content but typical of the page's miscellaneous "humor" format. The entire "Darkyisms" section represents deeply offensive historical racism presented as entertainment, reflecting the magazine's casual prejudice toward Black Americans.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
DARKYISMS Comparing Notes—It seemed that when Rastus and Sam died they took different routes; so when the latter got to heaven he called Rastus on the ‘phone. “Rastus,” he said, “how yo’ like it down thar?” “Oh, boy! Dis here am some plac replied Rastus. “All we has ter do is to ara red suit wid horns, an’ ebery now den shovel some coal on de fire. We don’t work no more dan two hours out ob de twenty-four down here. But tell me, Sam, how is it with you up yonder?” Mah goodness! We has to git up at fo’ o’clock in de mawnin’ an’ gathah in de stahs; den we has to haul in de moon and hang out de sun. Den we has ter roll de clouds aroun’ all day long.” “But, Sam, how comes it yo" has ter work so hard?” “Well, to tell de truf, Rastus, we’s kin’ o’ short of help up here.”"—Cassells Sat- urday Journal. Germani. Vain Dream d rfressen! herself sick!—L+e Rire (Par Germe Kitchen Colloquy—“Is de left hind foot of a rabbit a sign of luck?” us remarked Mr. Erastus Pink- ney, “if you owns de rest of de rabbit.” Washington Star Too Much Arithmetic—Uncle Mose Lightfoot approached a clerk in the drug > and inquired: any three-cent stamps?" “No,” the clerk replied, “we're all out of threes.”” “Dat’s too bad,” said Uncle Mose, use dis letter ought to go out to- night.” “We have plenty of twos.”” “But dis letter goes out ob town.” “ And we have plenty of ones.” “But one won't take it.” “Couldn't you put on a two and a one?’ “Huh?” “Or three one: As the old man ambled toward the door he scratched his head and answered: “Maybe I could; maybe I could; but I ain’t got no time to be foolin’ roun’ tryin’ to add up.”—Youngstown Telegram. ste WHEEZES The Safer Way—“He called his mother-in-law an old cat.” “That took some courage.” “Oh, he didn’t do it in words; he sent her a package of c@nip."”—Boston Tran- script. Home-Made Proof—“Do you be. lieve in heredity?” “Of course 1 do,” replied the gent “Why, I've got one of the Washing egotist. brightest boys you ever saw.” ton Star. No Romance—‘“ Prince, Cinderella left her slipper behind.” “Well?” “Your cue is to find her and marry ha her: Not with shoes at present prices. \ girl as careless as that with footgear would never make a thrifty wife.”— Louisville Courier-Journal. comicbooks.com