Judge, 1920-08-14 · page 12 of 36
Judge — August 14, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains two distinct pieces reflecting post-WWI American sentiment: **"Oh, Death, Where Is Thy Sting!"** is a satirical piece featuring a businessman's form-letter refusing charitable donations. The humor—and complaint—lies in his exhaustive list of organizations and government taxes extracting money: Federal War Tax, Liberty Bond Loans, the Red Cross, Y.M.C.A., Belgian Relief, and numerous others. The satire targets the explosive proliferation of fundraising campaigns and government levies following World War I, suggesting donors are being bled dry by endless appeals. The title's ironic reference to death reflects his claim he's barely "clinging to life." **"A Ballade of Vacations"** by Richard Le Gallienne is a romantic poem celebrating working-class vacation time—a respite from industrial labor ("no one...to boss you"). The repeated refrain "Free at last to kiss your girl underneath the trees" emphasizes vacation as liberation from mechanized work life. The accompanying cartoon shows a woman photographer posing subjects, with text suggesting they should "sit down" to look less like "a group"—a gentle joke about photography composition. Together, these pieces reflect 1920s anxieties about taxation, charitable fatigue, and the desire for authentic human connection outside industrial constraints.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drown by Cursten 1. Gan “Here's Sometuinc YOU Cax*r Do'* Oh, Death, Where Is Thy Sting! By Hexre A. ROPOS of the suspension of the Interchurch World movement by reason of popular prejudice against drives we note with amusement the form-letter of phia business man, which he sends in answer to all appeals: “For the following reasons,” he says, “I am unable to en- close my check: “I have been held-up, held down, sand- bagged, walked on, sat on, flattened out and squeezed. “First, by the United States Government for Federal War Tax, the Excess Profits Tax, the Lib- erty Bond Loans, Thrift Capital Stock, Merchants’ License and Auto Tax and by every society and organization that the inventive mind of man can invent to extract what I may or may not have in my Evans possession. “From the Society of John the Baptist, the G.A.R., the Woman's Relief. the Navy League, the Red Cross, the Black Cross, the Purple Cross, the Double Cross, the Children’s Home. the Dorcas Society, the Y. M. C , the Y. W.C. A., the Boy Scouts, the Jewish Relief, the Belgian Reliet, and every hospital in town “The government has so governed my business that I don’t know who owns it. I am inspected, examined and re-examined, informed, anded, so that I don’t know All that I know is ustible supply of ney for every known need, desire or hope of the human race; and because I will not sell all I have and go out and beg. borrow or steal money to give away. I am cussed, discussed, boycotted, talked to, talked about. lied to, lied about, held up, suspected required and com who I am, or why Iam here that Iam supposed to be an ine: m pow tograp, IT WON'T LOOK SO MUCH LIKE A GRoUP. 12 hung up, robbed and nearly ruined. clinging to life is to see what in H The only reason Tam is coming next.” A Ballade of Vacations By Ricuarn Le Garitesne SOME are all for quiet, some are all for noise. Some for jazz and “shimmy.” some for pastures green; 5 . We're off and out, working girls and boys, Leaving for the country by the Five Fifteen! Human beings once again—not parts of a machine, No one now to boss you, and no one else to please,- very little saleslady once again a queen- Free at last to kiss your girl underneath the trees. Time-clocks torgotten, and all such base annoys,— Keep it up till morning! the going’s good and keen! Three weeks out of fifty-two, we'll take our fill of je Time was made for slaves. girls—speed the limousin When a fellow’s twenty, and she’s but seventeen O it’s good to be alive. and take her on your knees. Then we kr what pleasure is, and all that life can mean— Free at last to kiss your girl underneath the trees. O but I am sorry for those poor city guys. Rushing for the subway, while here my head I lean Peaceful on your shoulder, dear, in bliss that never cloys, It sure must make God happy only to have seen Two that were as happy as you and I have been! Ah! little sweetheart, too fast the good time flees. But a few short days are left now for us to gl Free at last to kiss your girl underneath the tree ENVOI Darling, will you promise that none shall come between Your heart and my heart. no kiss be sweet as these We have kissed together, with none to intervene?— Free at last to kiss my girl underneath the trees. Drawn by Pace Reniy 7 Hubby—It MIGHT BE A LITTLE BETTER, DEAR, IF you'D SIT comicbooks.com