Judge, 1924-07-12 · page 7 of 36
Judge — July 12, 1924 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Impossible Dialogues" Page Analysis This Judge page satirizes **Prohibition-era absurdities** through two main pieces: **Top cartoon**: A businessman and bootlegger negotiate over illegal alcohol. The joke inverts expectations—the bootlegger insists the price is too low, while the businessman keeps raising his offer. The punchline reveals the bootleg liquor is "nothing but wood alcohol," a poisonous substitute that killed many during Prohibition. The satire mocks both the bootlegger's false modesty and the businessman's desperation to buy dangerous contraband, highlighting how Prohibition created criminal markets and poisoned citizens. **Bottom section**: "The Full Moon" parodies different literary responses to the same scene—from sentimental movie titles to cynical observations to affected modernist poetry. The final stanza mocks jazz-age bohemianism and romance, suggesting romantic sentiments ring hollow in a degraded world. Both pieces satirize 1920s social pretense and the failures of Prohibition policy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Impossible Dialogues \ Business Office. : A Business Man and a Bootlegger. Business Man Business Man—Nonsense! Vl pay you seventy-five. Bootlegger—I tell you, sir, it’s not worth fifty. Business Man—But L know it is. Vl make it eighty. Bootlegger—Really, sir. You embar- rass me. Business Man—And don’t you bother about delivering it. IM call for it, myself. Bootlegger—You're paying too much, sir. Business Man—Now, here's a hundred- dollar bill. Keep the extra twenty as a favor to me. Bootlegger—V'd much rather not, sir. Business Man—And don’t forget, Vl be around to-morrow. Bootlegger—VMl be waiting. Business Man—Now, will you kindly tell me why you said it wasn’t worth fifty a case? 1 Bootlegger—Well, sir, the fact is it’s nothing but wood alcohol. C. G.$ sae Aiman has been discovered in Washing- ton who says he has not seen take a drink of whisky in three years, Must be one of those old-fashioned Ken- tuckians who refuse to profane the sacred name of whisky. The movie actor’s jealous wife secures a photograph to send out to his feminine admirers. “The best little woman in the world!” The Full Moon What it moved John Doe to say—Aiw't nature grand? And Martha Doe to reply—Yeh. Vl say so. cls the movie title writer described it—The pale orb of night now rose majestically over the sullen waters, bringing to Harold's tired e) 2 Vision of peace and beauty. ts the cynic saw it—Moon-bait for weaktish. «As the old-time poet rhymed it when he reached home— ‘The moon in regal vestments now Peers out behind a cloud; The ocean, se muty’s brow, In love's despair moans loud. As the sophisticated vers librist dotted it off: The moon . ah. Two mortals 2... oh... Akiss ... ooh... Matrimony ... ouch... st A flock of buzz saws underneath a bough: A slide trombone. two saxophones, and thou Beside me, playing on a kettledrum: Ah, this fair world were loosened hell enow. comicbooks.com