Judge, 1923-04-14 · page 12 of 36
Judge — April 14, 1923 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This page contains two distinct pieces: **"Sunshine in My Soul"** by Walt Mason is a humorous poem about a cheerful man who uses constant smiling and optimism to avoid giving money to poor travelers and charitable causes. The satire targets wealthy people who offer hollow encouragement ("cheer up!") instead of actual financial help. He contrasts himself favorably with his neighbor Johnson, who actually gives five dollars to needy visitors but receives complaints for his grumpiness. Mason suggests that charm and empty positivity are socially rewarded over genuine kindness—people prefer his pleasant refusals to Johnson's begrudging generosity. **The cartoons** show: 1. A barber ("Hello, Rudopho!") at a chair with a customer 2. A bearded man in shabby clothes (the "weary pilgrim") 3. A street scene labeled "Cop (chasing runaway)—All right, guv'nor! You've got 'im!"—depicting what appears to be common urban police activity The content satirizes class attitudes and shallow materialism of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hello, Rudopho! Sunshine in My Soul by Walt Mason WEARY PILGRIM sce my door, what time the night is falling; face is sad, his legs are sore, his his shoes are old and galling. I know before he says a word just what the guy is after; and I'm a gay and chipper bird, all full of kindly laughter. I know the pilgrim would be fed hot wienies without number, and then he'd like to have a bed wherein to bask and slumber. And haply when the morning breaks, and early roosters holler, he'd ask me, ere his way he takes, to stake him with a dollar. He has no chance to tell his tale of troubles on him piling; I cry, “Cheer up, oh, sighing male, the good old sun is shining! I know the way is dark and long on which you're doomed to travel, but fill the air with yus song, and you'll forget the grav Oh, do not to Your sorrows cling, and spoil bright days beguiling, but whoop with me and dance and sing, and keep on, keep on smiling.” The pilgrim sometimes throws a brick, or draws a rusty cleaver, and says my platform makes him sick, and I’m a cheap deceiver. But I have 1 a weighty wad by being gay and sunny, dispensing, as I walk abroad, sweet smiles instead of money. And neighbors say, “Howgood he is! We always see him beami glad smiles are always on his ph eyes with kindness gleaming!” ws people come and ask for cash, on our kind hearts relying, to send a car of succotash to people who are dying, I meet them at my garden gate, and praise their noble mission; my gentle smile is clamped on straight, it’s always in condition. “Oh, noble gents and dames,” I ery, “your errand’s truly splendid; in you Got time to give us a hair cut?” great merit I desery, you have all virtues blended. Sometimes I think the human race is cheap and getting cheaper; it’s wallowing in black disgrace, and always getting deeper. And when I sit beneath my tree, alasing and ala ig, you come along and make me sce how high the race is stacking. My confidence again 1m stored, I'll have no doubts hereaft: T'll take a joyride in my Ford, and shak the air with laughter.” I chortle and I smile so much, no vik n have they landed; ance to make a touch, and go off empt handed. =xt door my neighbor Johnson dwells, +N and when he sees these callers, hi rends his sorrel beard and_ yells, and hands them out five dollars. And} sour mien offends them so they leave his place in dudgeon, and they denounce: him as they go; he is a gross curmudgeon They think of me with fond regret, com pared with that sore sinner; I aly the one best bet, my smile is sure a w ; smile illumes my festiv in ninished splendor; and every da y place that smile is legal tender ve the smile that cuts a swath, in by press and rectors; it has ged the speed cop's wrath, and stood off bill collectors. I smile my way o'er hill and dale, and do my sunshine talking; though better men may go to jail, on vel vet Tam walking. sae The Newlyweds live in a very dark ys am Better turn off that light in the dining- room, honey,” cautioned Mrs. Newly- »body is in there That’s the sun coming in, dearie.” “Oh.” ere eee) Cop (chasing runaway)—AIll right, guv’nor! You've got ’im! 10 they have no comicbooks.com