Judge, 1921-05-14 · page 25 of 32
Judge — May 14, 1921 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces critiquing early 1920s American politics and social attitudes. **"Cruelty"** mocks the decline of literary quality, comparing free-verse poetry to a debased beast—suggesting modernist poetry has lost its classical elegance. **"Knew His Business"** satirizes urban machine politics. Bill is a successful ward-heeler (political operative who trades patronage for votes) whom his ambitious wife wants elevated to Congress. The "Boss" refuses, arguing Bill lacks the education and class needed for higher office—ironic since Bill's entire career relied on political corruption rather than merit. The satire targets both the cynicism of machine politics and the pretension that Congress requires sophistication. **The illustration** captioned "Losing a Horseshoe Brings Some People Good Luck" depicts an interior scene; the caption appears to reference superstition or possibly a lost political opportunity bringing fortune to others. The sidebar items offer brief satirical jokes about motion, economics, and safe-cracking—typical magazine filler humor of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ay 14, 1921 C rue 1 ty The Boss listened ue patiently to his ar- By Haroto C. Duxaan guments, but was HEY clipped the wings of Pegasus vinced When Free-verse Poetry bloomed. “You've done good hey hitched him to an Omnibus work for the Party, And never had him Groomed Bill,” he admitted, “and Vd like to They feed the beast on Matter now, help you, but this His Form has gone to pot Congress thing is He’s looking very like a Cow; not in’ your line. It’s time he should be Shot You aven't got the class, and you Books at his case haven't got — the m there'll come a Day education. Where wicked poets will have to face would you be The okt S. Po CLS when some of those highbrows down - Knew His Business there began to talk n by Cavcewy Serr By Isaac Axpewsox fo you about “Say Ma! Sow ONE LEFT TIHS SIGN ON OLR PRONT STEPS; & is litical Economy? say Bit was a tician of the ward-heeler You don’t even type, and a fairly successful one For know what it is vears he had been content to accept. such “Tdon't, hey?” retorted Billangrily. “* You just “ Motion h me a guy that gets the votes any cheaper Tested "—C. NW. Patterson in Forb Magazir patronage as organization saw fit “Motion is money.” At a glance m. Then, all of a sudden, his wife de than I do.” Tainted This doesn’t seem quite fair. Each victim of St. Vitus dance Should be a mill re! »ped ambitions and decided that Bill ought to be a member of Congress. There was nothing Imprisoned Burglar—There's one thing about for Bill to do but te nd sce the Boss about it safe-blowing—"taint safe! Drawn by P. D. Jouxson LosinG A HORSESHOE BRINGS SOME PEOPLE GooD LUCK 2s comicbooks.com