Judge, 1920-07-17 · page 7 of 36
Judge — July 17, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains several satirical pieces typical of early 1920s American humor: **"His Surprising Performance"** mocks a small-town newspaper editor who's purchased a new typesetting machine but doesn't know how to operate it properly. The story absurdly reports 333,337 skunks caught and a man dying at age 90,006—obvious mechanical errors that appear believable to the rural characters. The satire targets both technological incompetence and gullible rural readers. **"The Village Blacksmith"** updates Longfellow's famous poem, showing the old craftsman has pivoted to "Automobile Repairs"—satirizing how automobiles were displacing traditional trades in the 1920s. **"Broadway"** is a straightforward celebratory poem about New York's theatrical district and its glamorous appeal. The remaining items are brief jokes: a bellboy wanting gas money instead of a tip, and a quip about remembering Wilson's cabinet members as an "epochal achievement"—likely poking fun at President Wilson's administration, which had recently left office (1921). The page reflects post-WWI American concerns about modernity, rural versus urban culture, and political transitions.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drown by AK. avess Manager—You'Lt. WAVE TO PUT MORE PEP INTO THAT DRINKING SCENE Comedian—\ vont © now T CAN, UNLESS you PUT MORE KICK IN THE STUPP YOU GIVE ME TO DRINK. His Surprising Performance By Tom Po Moxcan “* Merey sakes alive!” exclaimed Aunt Fretty, in the midst of her perusal of the village newspaper. “The new editor of the Vorch of Liberty is an awhul storyteller, oryel Miuzy! He says, right here, that the Skinner boy trappedRSt'aionth 333337 skunks and the receipts of the Ladies’ Aid festival Wednesday night were $666663; and there never was that many skunks or dollars ketched at a festival in the hull history of the world—I mean, there never was so many skunks in the neighborhood or money at a church entertainment. A little farther along he states that Uncle ’Bijah Prime passed away at the ripe age of 90006 years, and eggs are now fetching 488 cents 2 dozen, and in the next column says the new pastor of the stone church is the Rev. Ooooccoo Goode Evans. What in time is the matter with the man?” “Oh, he wanted to start off with kind of a splurge,” replied Uncle Ty- halt, “and so he got him a type-setting, machine—I forget ume of it. He hasn't found out yet how to run it very well, and it kinda stutters on him.” From Past Business Crimi Attorney's Clerk—Your boss hasn’t had a case fora year. I don’t see how he lives and pays office rent Divorce Attorney’s Clerk—That’s easy. Every month he gets five per cent. of three hundred and cighty-two alimonies The Village Blacksmith Under a spreading chestnut tree The village smithy wears The same old look as when the smith Toiled on amid his cares. But now this sign’s above the door: “Automobile Repairs.” Week in, week out, from morn to night, Long since the smith began the tourists on the road— Still does so, all he can; And it is thought by some that he’s Crawn by PD. Jonsson An independent man. Broadway By Tne as J. Murnay ‘OU have a lyric prestige, famed afar Men dream of you across the waste and snows; Your flood lights blot the gleam of moon and star, A blazing boulevard that nightly glows With purple fire shading into ro: While flaming letters climb the night’s black wail; Flinging across the skies the Corsets and cigarettes that have the call s. of hose, Here prima donnas fresh from calcium’s glare, Whose names are blazoned far from coast to coast; Poet and diplomat, while frankly stare Crowds from the provinces, a mighty host Who throng the Main Street of the westem world, While colored fires o'er their heads are hurled. In 1920 Patronizing Guest—Boy, if I gave you five dollars what would you do with it? Bellboy—Buy gas for me car An Earfull Professor—What do you know about the army worm? Student—Everything; I was a buck private once myself. Epochal Achievement “Jim has got a wonderful memory “Tn what way?” “He can remember the names of all the former members of President Wilson’s cabinet.” “Watr a MiNncTE, MIsTER; ULL CALL Dap. Hr can oven it ror yeu 7