Judge — January 25, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Chawl's Enters the Realm of Mystery" - Judge Magazine Comic This is a slapstick silent-film parody titled "A One Reel Feature," mimicking early cinema comedies. The protagonist "Chawl's" (appears to be a working-class character type) attempts to join a fraternal lodge or secret society, encountering increasingly absurd obstacles: a mysterious door, confused gatekeepers asking riddles ("Eeny Meeny"), a custodian and usher creating chaos, and ultimately a trapdoor that dumps him repeatedly. The satire targets fraternal organizations (Masons, Odd Fellows, etc.) popular in early 20th-century America—their secretive rituals, elaborate initiation ceremonies, and pompous formality. The comic ridicules both the organizations' pretensions and initiates' desperation for membership. The final panels show lodge members engaged in chaotic indoor "doings," reinforcing the joke that these supposedly dignified organizations are actually absurd. Drawn by Zim, this reflects Judge magazine's typical satirical humor about American institutions and social climbing.