Judge, 1921-04-09 · page 9 of 32
Judge — April 9, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page combines a cartoon joke with a satirical poem criticizing American "Blue Laws"—restrictive moral legislation. **The Cartoon:** A society scene shows well-dressed New York ladies at what appears to be a social gathering. A stranger remarks that he notices none wear jewelry. A gentleman responds that this is because of recent crime waves and theft in New York. **The Poem's Satire:** Richard Le Gallienne's "Ballade of the Blue Laws" mocks puritanical legislation that restricted personal freedoms (drinking, entertainment, etc.). The repeated refrain "Blue's a d——d foolish color for the laws" condemns these moral restrictions as hypocritical and anti-joy. He attacks "fanatic fools," corrupt "lobbyists of 'purity,'" and calls for resistance against these false moralists who spy on citizens' pleasures. **The Connection:** Both pieces critique restrictions on personal liberty—the cartoon shows visible consequences (stolen luxury goods) while the poem attacks the moral framework behind such laws as tyrannical and joyless.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~ — — rem Lincons + A. nger—I Norice THAT None or THE New York Labies WEAR JEWELRY Natice—My bear CHAP, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT SINCE THE CRIME WAVE BEGAN ALL THE yewetry iy New York WAS BEEN STOLEN? Ballade of the Blue Laws By Ricttarp Le GALLIENNE BLVE is the proper color of the sky, Red, that in roses is a comely dye, A most becoming color for the sea, In noses is no longer fair to see; Most potent is it in a woman's eye, So, with the laws, blue gives itself the lie, And bluest flowers ever the fairest be, The badge of tyrannous hypocrisy, Woven within the meadow’s tapestry; ‘The foe of all our warm humanity, It blazons the magnificence of macaws, Hunting the bird of joy with teeth and claws, Enchants the blue-bird’s bosom; but, perdic! Abhorring the bright face of gaiety— Blue’s a d——4d foolish color for the laws. Blue's a d d foolish color for the laws. How long shall these fanatic fools “get by” In this great land so strangely called “the free,” On all our pleasures making hue and cry, Battening on blackmail and snug salary, The perjured lobbyists of “purit Spies of each happy breath their neighbor draws, Collecting from the coward his fat fee Blue’s a d—d foolish color for the laws. Envoi O friends and fellow-sinners—time that we Against these false “saints "’ make our common cause, While still there glimmers one last gleam of glee Blue’s a d——d foolish color for the laws. comicbooks.com