Judge, 1924-06-28 · page 8 of 37
Judge — June 28, 1924 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Hero and Leander" — Judge Magazine Satire This page presents a humorous retelling of the classical myth of Hero and Leander—lovers separated by water, with tragic consequences. The satire appears to target early 20th-century romance across national/cultural boundaries. The joke operates on multiple levels: Leander, an "Asian" gentleman, repeatedly swims across a stream to court Hero, a European lady. Their courtship is undermined by absurd domesticity—when he visits, they engage in inane baby-talk ("dickey and ducky"). The tragic classical ending (he drowns; she jumps after him) becomes darkly comedic commentary on impractical long-distance romance. The moral by Howard Dietz warns men against pursuing distant women—likely a humorous jab at transatlantic courtships or cross-cultural relationships that were becoming more common but remained socially fraught. The classical frame allows safe satirization of contemporary anxieties about modern romance and cultural differences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A LAD named Leander, with wonderful candor, i Philandered with many a blond. But soon came a cunning, ¢ ous and stuming Young lady from over the pond. He whispered, “I love you,” she answered the same, And quickly they fanned up the spark to a flame. All others were zero To this cavalero From now on, save Hero— For that was her name. Leander was handsome. She ditto was—and some, Their tastes in all things would agree. That ends the equation, for he was an Asian— A lady from Europe was she. Their hearts. were as one, every hope, every dream. Divided alone were their homes—by a stream. Now were there a ferry, This rhyme would be very— Well—unnecessary, Or so it would seem. WERO AND For him to go calling was more than appalling, Each night he would swim all the way. No water was rougher, no swimming was tougher, And when he got there all they'd say, Was “dic! and duck nd_ hone And who's little snookey and ooke} ‘To swim for the latter Nonsensical chatter Seems queer, but the matter Of fact is, he swam. nd lamb you am?” However erratic conditions climatic, This lover aquatic would call. In lightning and thunder | One night he was ca d go. And no wonder sht in a squall! I'm sure that already you've doped out his fate. For hours did Hero, his heroine, wait. And soon when she noted ‘The way that he floated, She wept, then she voted To jump in the strait. The MORAL is this: (on the point I’m insistent) Don’t warm to a woman who's ever so distant. Howarp Dietz. comicbooks.com