Judge, 1923-04-21 · page 4 of 36
Judge — April 21, 1923 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page The top cartoon shows a father (a professional sword swallower, based on the caption) reprimanding his son for eating with a knife instead of proper table manners. The humor relies on the father's ironic hypocrisy: he performs the extreme act of swallowing swords professionally, yet demands his son follow civilized dining etiquette. This satirizes parental hypocrisy and the gap between parents' own behavior and standards they impose on children. The page also contains two poems ("The Camel's Straw" and "The Same Old Spring") and a brief joke about an octopus at the bottom. These appear to be typical filler content common in satirical magazines of this era, though they lack obvious political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The professional sword swallower reprimands his son for eating with his knife. The Camel's Straw by Gardner Rea [ee Epitor of the Squawmus Prickly Persimmon sat chewing’ on the last clinging shreds of a reeking stogie. He chewed viciously and = with precision, Suddenly he whirled on his soap-box, kicked the motley spittoon from his path and strode to the door. His mind was nade up. “Send roared. In a few moments the sandy-haired, bespectacled B. O,. appeared on the scen “Pete,” said the editor, “you're fired. Git!” The B. O, stood for an instant, ed. Then righteous indignation seized “nt hold of his vocal chords, “What's t kic he demanded aggressively. “Ain't I the best Business Office you ever had? Ain't I got more advertising for this dinky sheet than it ever seen before in its measly life? And didn’t I just bring in a brand-new half- page ad. this morning?” “Yes,” replied the editor sarcastically, And that’s why you get your Exchange ads., every me the Business Office,” he “you did. traveling papers. one of them! “Tl admit,” he went on more moder- ately, “I don’t expect showers of real, lovely cash even from heaven; and still less from a red-headed Business Office. But I do a right to look for a little common sense! “ve worn your Kollege-Kut Kollar ad. I've gulped down three months of Aunt "s Stomach and Backache Pills. my corduroy. vest with your flower ad., made socks Household Knitter ad. and shined e thing from my toothpick to Jeb Pe wooden leg with your three varnish ads, Gone through it ‘like a little doughboy, and never peept Here the editor paused an instant for effect. Budding: What's that, mother? “That’s an octopus.” “Gee, couldn’t he neck, though!” “But when you have the nerve to come in here like you did this morning with a half-y —" The B. O. shifted his position uneasily, and sighted on the door. “—a half-page ad. for Lillian Lovely Pink Silk Chemises, I draw the line! “Git!” ttt The Same Old Spring by G.M. HE spring, the gladsome spring, is here; The camphor ball of yesteryear Rolls forth from out the old blue serge, Obedient to the cosmic urge. Anon a flock of Fords new-born Will lift a thin, soprano horn And gambol down the thoroughfare Where once their elders took the air. Red flannels change to smarter white; The sad straw lid is brought to light, And soon a group of freckled peache Will bloom again upon our beaches. The niblick and the spoon rejoice And list the call of master’s voice As golfers by the score appear Cheer up, old thing, the spring is here!