Judge, 1923-10-20 · page 9 of 36
Judge — October 20, 1923 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Before and After" and Satirical Humor in Judge This page from Judge magazine contains several brief satirical pieces mocking American social pretensions and economic absurdities circa the 1910s-20s. **"Before and After"** (top right) jokes that marriage disappoints—he finds her "different" after the wedding, leading to quick divorce. It's commentary on romantic disillusionment. **The "Fertilizer" joke** mocks African American dialect while satirizing poor families naming children after their occupations or circumstances. **The Communist dialogue** ridicules communist ideology by showing even communists grudgingly acknowledge the wealthy enjoy better conditions—implying communism fails on its own promises. **The "three cuckoos" clock joke** satirizes labor unions by suggesting absurd work rules (each cuckoo requires its own eight-hour shift) that waste resources and inhibit productivity. **Various "News Notes"** mock small-town gossip and human folly—a speedway accident, roller-skating mishaps, investment schemes. The overall tone is urbane cynicism about American society's follies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The call of the wild. Egg View News Notes by Lestie Van Every Tue coal stov Sunday night’ th ted so- stubborn the entire Spoor family was forced to attend church. Plato) Prouty motored through — to Chicago a few days ago. Ina letter just received from him he states that he made the entire trip without even a puncher. | “Passing the buck.” The roller-skating rink opened Satur- day evening and Corny Paine saw so many stars the first time his fect got unruly that he wondered. if the building had lost its roof! .* « Chet Lumley has into the cider-mill is the way out again. arned that the way sier to find than Truth may lie at the bottom of the well, but that doesn’t do the stockholders any good. tt He (in the car)—Did you ever et pinched while going No, but I squeezed while going slow. got et Higys What do you think of my hew car? Biggs me. and you're bigger than me, Why ask besides: toe Crauford —Tm afraid to cross the street_on account of the speed maniacs. Can nothing be done about it? Crabshaw—I guess not. They have us coming and going. ss “Then won't inves “Not a cent.” “But [tell you this is another Golconda.” Phat decides me. ['m already in four Golcon- das.” you cuckoos!” “Yas, ma’am. Before and After by BE. DK. H — THOUGHT that she was different, And so, without a stir, He popped the fatal question, Then quickly married her. Before a year had vanished Divorce was what he sought, Because he found his dear was So different than he thought. et “Aunty. why do you call your boy Fertilizer?” “Why. it named so we is dis way. His pa, he is rdinand and [is named Eliza, amed dis boy Fertilizer for both of us.” replied the old colored woman eos “Aren't you ashamed go selling doubtful oil shares? “T tried selling plowshares, but plow- shares implied that the buyer would have to do some work to get any profits.” ae. around First Communist—Nice weather we're having, comrade. Second Communist (grudgingly) —I sup- pose so, but the rich are having it, too. ttt A sure-way to attract attention in the world is to become a steelplejack. “Mercy! I didn’t know they made clocks with three To comply with union rules, each cuckoo works an eight-hour day.” comicbooks.com