Judge, 1924-09-06 · page 15 of 37
Judge — September 6, 1924 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains several satirical humor pieces typical of early 20th-century American comedy: **Main Cartoon (top):** A couple lost in the countryside—the woman romantically quotes poets about finding oneself in "great open spaces," while the man reveals the prosaic truth: they're twenty miles from anywhere, it's getting dark, and he's lost the map. The satire mocks romantic idealism versus practical reality. **"The Spell":** A man describes how theater makes him feel brave for three blocks afterward, but by the fourth block he's cowardly again—even stopping to help someone being mugged. The joke is on his fragile confidence and self-awareness of his own timidity. **Other brief jokes satirize:** - Automobiles enabling getaways for criminals - Careless chauffeurs - A beggar's ironic preference for blindness (to avoid counterfeit money) - A coal merchant's dishonesty (implying the "fire" is his comeuppance) The page is primarily humor/satire without clear political content, reflecting Judge's typical focus on social observation and urban American life.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XUM N l Bp | li SN SS . Sern SS Joan (romantically)—J think the poets are right, George. It's only in the great open spaces that we find ourselves! Grorce—Well, we're twenty miles from anywhere, the sun’s going down, and I’ve lost the map, so now's your chancel The Spell wre I go to the theater, I go for the spell of the thing. And when I leave the theater, the spell of the thing is still on me. For the first block I am a hero; for the second block Iam a brave man; and for the third block I am still far from faint-hearted. But the fourth block, Iam my old timid self again. ‘The affair happened during the second block. I heard a scuffle and a shriek. As a brave man, I leaped instantly into action. Directly ahead of me three thugs were attacking an old gentleman, to whose arm clung a damsel in distress. Directly ahead, I sprang—malacca stick raised on high. In a moment I was upon them. Hereafter, for the first three blocks, I shall take a taxi. Gardner Rea Dusty, THE Pur—Automobiles certainly make a getaway much easier for us bandits! Don’t Spare the Horse Power! Young Batt—This chauffeur is driving me to drink. Old Nipp—Are you sure he knows the right address? Sweet Charity “My poor fellow,” said the old lady, “here is a quarter for you. Goodness gracious, it must be dreadful to be lame, but just think how much worse it would be if you were blind.” “Yer right, lady.” agreed the beggar, “when I was blind I was always getting counterfeit money. Coals of Fire Coal Merchant—Quick, quick! My coal yard’s afire. Fireman—Well, if it’s the same stuff you sold me the other day, there’s no hurry. comicbooks.com