Judge, 1925-08-22 · page 15 of 36
Judge — August 22, 1925 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Chicago's reputation for crime and corruption. The "Seeing America Worst" section sarcastically labels Chicago as a destination, referencing the Leopold and Loeb murder case—a 1924 kidnapping and killing by two wealthy Chicago youths that scandalized the nation. The opening "Outline of News" mockingly shows how newspapers sensationalize the same minor fire story, exaggerating death tolls from "fifty persons" down to a false alarm, demonstrating press irresponsibility. The cartoon depicting a man and woman includes crude sexual innuendo about a neighbor descending a ladder, playing on period stereotypes about immigrant tenement dwellers. The "Now on the Market" section advertises absurdist gadgets—a slippery purse, self-emptying ash tray, broken sardine-can keys—mocking consumer culture and design failures. The "Epilaughs" section includes a dark joke about someone being "rocked" to sleep at a bricklayer's party (likely beaten). Overall, the page critiques urban crime, journalistic excess, immigrant stereotypes, and commercial gimmickry in 1920s America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Outline of News Extra! For persons are reported to have been burned to death this morning in a fire which destroyed a densely populated tenement in the East Side ghetto district. The holo- caust beggars description. The flames are said to be spreading rapidly and it is feared that whole blocks wilh be wiped out in the con- flagration: Noon Edition A score of persons are believed to have perished this morning when their home—a tenement in the ghetto district—was destroyed by fire. One of the victimes is declared to have been a woman prominent in society. Firemen are fighting des- perately to prevent the blaze from spreading to adjoining structures. Afternoon Edition Three persons met a horrible death this morning when fire attacked an East Side tenement. The identity of the victims has not been estab- lished. The fire was confined to the top floor. Final Edition Flames attacked a tenement struc- ture on the lower East Side this morning, starting in the basement. It is rumored that the janitor was suffocated by the smoke. Last Final Edition Members of Engine Company No. 13 responded to a false alarm in the ghetto district this morning. Robert Hage SEEING AMERICA WORST Ns OU are now entering CHICAGO, Illinois. “Oyez, oyez! door neighbor desc‘nding a ladder Srom her second-story window!” “Depend on’t, there musta been a man at the bottom of it.” I just saw our next First Kip—That’s my father passing the plate. Vistror—What a funny way to make a living. The place where Leopoldand Loeb got away with murder. Now on the Market T Slippery Purse. Made from the slipperiest leather obtainable. When you take it out of your pocket it slips out of your hand like a cake of wet soap, and while you are bend- ing over to pick it up the other fellow pays the fare. Saves its price in a short space of time. The Fountain Pen Vest. pockets lined with blotting-paper. The Self-emptying Ash ‘Tray. This is a top-heavy affair which you place on the edge of your writing table. _When you flip ashes into it it loses its balance and falls to the floor, emptying the ashes during the process. You pick up the tray, but leave the ashes on the floor. They can be swept up any time. Handyman Soldering Outfit. For mending the keys that come with sardine cans.- These keys invaria- bly break when the can is about one-third open. The Staytogether Cuff Link. Only one to a customer. R. C. O'Brien Cred Troy Weight 1 collar—2 cuffs. 2 cuffs—a shirt 1 shirt—24 pins. All gv’ UG > Snoozing under this stone Lies Dennis McCarty They “rocked” him to sleep Ata bricklayer’s party. prsaihvabodtitt¥erer dima ing, tarde Saige POY3 #5 fOr €Och One pry al comicbooks.com