Judge, 1919-05-31 · page 10 of 36
Judge — May 31, 1919 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explaining This Judge Magazine Page This page contains three separate pieces of WWI-era satire: **"A.E.F. Belt Lines"** is a patriotic poem by a soldier praising his practical money belt over fancy military belts like the "Sam Brown" (officers' parade belt). It's sentimental wartime verse celebrating humble functionality. **"His System"** mocks a rural Arkansas couple endlessly arguing about daylight saving time—he claims it interferes with God's work; she calls him spiritually blind. The joke is that their pointless argument keeps them occupied, preventing worse quarrels. It satirizes rural superstition and marital discord. **"A Sufficient Reason"** is a short joke: when asked why a carnival barker uses flowery language ("vile reptiles") instead of plain speech ("snakes"), he admits it's purely for money—paralleling how politicians flatter voters as "dear people" and "sturdy yeomanry" for the same mercenary reason. Political hypocrisy is the target. The cartoon above shows prosperity propaganda signs amid wartime conditions—likely satirizing government rhetoric about abundance during rationing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘OF WORK GOOD WAGES. PROSP. ‘ney Woy’t Grow Hert His System By Tom P. Moxcan * = and my wife are still arguing about the change in time,” ad- M mitted a citizen of Sandy Mush, Ark he has held all along that it was wrong to set the clock ahead b’cuz that was inter- fering with what the Lord has done. I have contended all the while that as the clock has always been ahead or behind or not running or striking even at half past four, and all such as that, I'd burhung if I seen how it ade much difference to the Lord what we done to it. But she thinks I m so blinded by sin that I can’t behold the truth. I would have stopped long ago and let it go at that, but if we quit arguing about that subject we'll go to squabbling about something else. So I keep mentioning the tter to her once in a while to keep the discussion alive, rather than go to the trouble of posting up on some other subject to jower about.” A Sufficient Reason “Why,”” we severely inquired, “do you refer to them as ‘vile and venom s reptiles’ and ‘horrid reptilian monsters,’ instead of plain snakes?" For the same reason,” frankly replied the sideshow bally-hoo artist, “that the average Hon. calls the voters ‘the dear people,’ ‘our sturdy yeomanry,’ and —because we need the money.”” Home-Made What kind of people are they? -He is a self-made man and she is a selfish-made woman. A. E. F. Belt Lines By Por, Rowent Axwrt Joves, A. EB. F., Pronce Ts wear 9 there is but one That brings enthusiasm ra’ When all is said and done belts that so It is no “Nineteen Seventeen Dismounted” belt I praise, Nor worn where oft it may be seen— Yet, I like its modest ways Let others have their fine Sam Brown— The rank and all that I envy none, from Per Vo my old belt I'm truc For the belt that makes the biggest hit Is snuggled next my pelt, And silently it does its bit— God bless my money: belt once a rom » used to dope th If it's made of ere T He comicbooks.com