Judge, 1919-11-08 · page 5 of 36
Judge — November 8, 1919 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis The cartoon depicts an elephant and dinosaur harnessed to pull a cart, with a man (labeled "Mr. Caveman") dismissing it as impractical. This is satirical commentary on technological progress during Prohibition (the 1920s-1930s ban on alcohol). The illustration mocks resistance to new ideas—the "caveman" character represents those opposing modern solutions. The dinosaur symbolizes obsolete thinking; the elephant likely represents the Republican Party (its standard symbol), suggesting GOP resistance to progressive policy. The page announces a new "Probioid" column in *Judge* magazine, where editor Gelett Burgess will tackle unanswered questions plaguing readers during Prohibition. The satire targets those clinging to old ways while society modernizes, making the Prohibition-era debate tangible through this absurdist visual metaphor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drawn by RB. Fuuter Mr. Caveman (on seeing the first cart)—Humph! "Taint practical! What Is a Probloid—and WhyP A New Department for the Stimulation of Judge Readers in this Era of Prohibition To Be Personally Conducted by Geverr Burcrss T isn’t only the question of Prohibition or the High Cost of Living or of the I tions that needs to be answered today other problems that are agitating the brains, any, of the Common and Uncommon People. Few of us really care whether the Dobrudja should have a Mandate over Dementia, or not. But we are often greedy for a reply to the vital question: “What d'you know about That?" In other times such queer queries have been left unanswered. The Middle Ages never quite decided How Many Angels could Dance on the Point of a Needle, and later days received no convincing answer to the popular question, “Who struck Patsy “How Old is Ann?” or “Why is W. J. Bry: at this moment you are undoubtedly asking yourself and your aunt, “What IS a Probloid Well, to the problems of Today attention and answers. Gelett Burge: the soulful interrogation “Ain't An; answer to which was found to be “Yes,—awful funny!) has recently spent considerable time in in- sane asylums, kindergartens, women’s clubs, soft-drink saloons, Mack Sennett’s motion picture studio, and the stock exchange, trying to find out What People ly Want to Know. These questions, which he s “Probloids,” will be put in JUDGE, and the lers of this very magazine will have the opportunity and privilege—nay, the duty—of answering them. r the best solution of each Probloid its solver will , gratis, an exquisite Five Dollar Bill or Fed- eral Reserve Note, containing a beautifully engraved picture (in green) of the Landing of the Pilgrims, or other Historical Scene. Any other clever answers published will be awarded with a One-Spot, or, if pre- ferred, One Hundred Cents. And so, Dear Reader, eat all the fish you can afford in the meantime. Presently you will certainly need a Lucid Interval. Keep perfectly Calm. Avoid Motion Pictures, sleep on your Right Side, and read JUDGE continually, and it, peradventure, may be you (who knows?) who wins the first pink and peculiarly puz- zling Probloid! By Getert Burcess You have all, dear Readers, been to, the Movies— been, perhaps, more than once; or, if you havert't, your wife probably has. And you have all marveled at and admired the literary gems of thought known