Judge, 1921-10-08 · page 13 of 36
Judge — October 8, 1921 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Conversion" and Related Content **Main Story:** "The Conversion" satirizes revival evangelism. Rodd, an unattractive man obsessed with a church choir singer, becomes emotionally overwhelmed by a hellfire-and-brimstone sermon. He publicly confesses sins and attempts to announce plans to continue sinning—but ushers forcibly remove him before he can speak. The joke: his "conversion" was really about the attractive woman; the other churchgoers are relieved he's silenced, not genuinely moved by his repentance. **Top Cartoon:** Mocks traffic regulation by showing a man directing cars like an evangelist directs sinners—suggesting both are performative authority figures. **"Sympathy" poem:** Gently mocks English observers who claim political neutrality on Irish issues yet still sentimentally pity Irish suffering—hollow sympathy without engagement. **Bottom comic strip:** "Knowledge is power"—appears to show escalating domestic chaos, likely satirizing the consequences of education or information-sharing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
/( The Conversion By Gro. B. JENKINS Roepe had small, bright eyes, roofed over by thick bushy eye- J brows. A wavy mus- tache, of the walrus va- riety, hung fiercely upon his upper lip. There were two deep lines graven in his cheeks, giving him a hard, ferocious appearance. He was undersized and skimpy, with large, misshapen hands. . He sat in the rear of the church, with his eyes fixed upon the contralto of the choir. She was lovely, deep- bosomed and tall, with clear, steady eyes and a mouth of vivid red. For the first thirty minutes of the sermon Rodd feasted his eyes upon the contralto. Then a particularly loud shout from the pulpit caught his attention. Rodd listened to the highly-paid evangelist, as he boomed and howled, beseeching sinners to “Repent!” Rodd listened, and a sense of his own unworthiness fell upon him. He squirmed in his seat, fear of a fiery hell gnawing at his tals. All the terrors of an unfor; ng God were thrust before him, brimstone, limit- less punishment, continual torture, unthinkable agony, all were men- tioned. Rodd shivered, his flesh crawled beneath his union-suit, per- spiration trickled from his face. The evangelist tugged at a wilted collar, and flung himself into his per- oration. “Repent!” he screamed, “Repent, or sizzle in the unquenchable fires of hell! Ask for forgiveness, or—” Rodd shuddered. He felt as though the burning eyes from the pulpit were stabbing him. He leaped to his feet. “T’ve sinned!” he howled, “but I shall sin no longer. I’m going to con- fess all! I have been wicked, and others have committed the same Why not conduct traffic regulation like this? crimes! To-night, even, after church, 1 had planned to continue in my sins, together with—” An usher caught Rodd by the throat, and another pinned his arms. Struggling, and trying to speak, Rodd was carried from the church. When she saw him carried safely away, the contralto took a long breath of relief. The color came back to her face. Three men in the audience took out their handkerchiefs and wiped their foreheads. The minister knelt. “Lord!” Thee—” “ he said, “we thank Sympathy By J. B. SPRAGUE HOLD aloof and will not mix On English-Irish politics— But still I am humane, for all o that. And when accounts I daily read Of starving Irish and their need. I must admit my heart goes “pity Pat.” 100% Perfect A good salesman is one who can sell you white hose when you want Knowledge is power. 13 comicbooks.com