Judge, 1919-05-03 · page 9 of 36
Judge — May 3, 1919 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Satire: Anti-Bolshevik Propaganda This is a satirical fable mocking Russian Bolsheviks, specifically targeting Trotskyism (reference to Leon Trotsky, Bolshevik revolutionary). The story follows "Red Ivan," a stereotypical unwashed radical Bolshevik who agitates for revolution and wealth redistribution. The satire's point: when Ivan is captured by the former aristocratic upper class and given luxury treatment—food, grooming, comfort—he abandons his revolutionary ideology entirely. He becomes a capitalist millionaire, marries a duke's daughter, and fights against Bolshevism. The moral cynically suggests that Bolsheviks are motivated purely by deprivation and envy, not genuine ideology. Give them material comfort and they'll abandon their beliefs. This reflects American anti-communist sentiment of the 1920s-30s, dismissing revolutionary politics as mere resentment rather than serious conviction. The crude caricatures and condescending tone typify period propaganda in *Judge*, a conservative satirical magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Whe Pables of ANbab. 5Y Harlan E. Babcock Decorations *¥ Wilfred Jones How Red Ivan Was Cured of Trotzkyitis N Russia, so the Story goes, there Lived a Bolshevik— A Frowsy Person, all Unkempt, and Far from Mild and Meek. He loved to Leap upon a Keg and Spout that Trotzky Stuff, And Cussendam the Muscovites who used to Treat him Rough. He fain would Slaughter the Elite, and Wallow in their Gold. He specialized on Half-Starved Dukes and Dukesses, I’m told. His Hair was Long and full of Burrs, his Phiz-Fuzz Crop a Sight, So Rife was It with Stock Alive it kept him up All Night. He Bombed and Gassed and Bolsheviked in Simple, Merry Style, And yet, his Bread Container growled for Sustenance the While. One day a Jolly Bevy of the Erstwhile Upper Class In Jousting nailed the Bolshevik, and cried, “You shall not Pass! And for a Sly Experiment they Chucked him in a Cell Plumb full of Vodka and of Grub, his Ruby Rage to Quell. They almost Killed him with a Bath; theyySheared his Mug- Map bare, Rubbed Frangipani in his Ears and Butter in his Hair, Bemantled him with Scen’ry new, and while in Puzzled Mood They stoked his Furnace full of Rum and Goodness-Gracious Food! And then they turned Red Ivan out all Oily, Fat and Sleck; He hunted up his Keg again and started in to Speak. The Mob mistook him for a Duke, began to Rave and Roar, Then fell upon his Head and Hide and Larruped him full Sore. He sought the Squad of Mirthful Crooks that Caught him in Their Snare, Became like Them a High-Class Cuss. and then a Millionaire. So now he gets Three Squares a Day, and does not Give a Dang, And what he Fit for, now he Fights—that Bolshevistic Gang. He wed. Grand Duke’s Dorter with a Wad of Winsome ays, And of the Past he Often says, “Ah, Them Wuz Happy Days!” Moral: If you would Cure a Bolshevist, the Poor Crock do not Drub— His Tank with Mujik Moonshine flood, and give him Gobs of Grub comicbooks.com