Judge, 1925-08-22 · page 22 of 36
Judge — August 22, 1925 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical humor pieces typical of early 20th-century American humor magazines. **"The Cheer"** section mocks advertising saturation. A father tells his son a bedtime story, but the child constantly interrupts asking if characters used advertised products—Fisk tires, Lionel Strongfort (a mail-order fitness program), Camel cigarettes, and Fairy Soap. The satire targets how pervasively commercial advertisements had infiltrated American culture, making them inescapable even in children's storytelling. **Other brief jokes** include ethnic humor stereotypes (a South Dakota resident, a Yiddish-accented character) and sight gags about a British character asking for directions. The overall message critiques the commercialization of American life—how brand names and consumer products had become so embedded in everyday consciousness that they intrude even into innocent moments like bedtime stories.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Where are you from?” “South Dakota.” “My! You don’t talk like a South- erner.” —Norre Dame Juccier Bedtime Story Lo ™ Oscar nestled up in his father’s lap. “Papa, tell me a story before I go to bed, will you?” “Surely, surely, Oscar,” replied his kind father. “Now once upon a time there was a little red squirrel—” “Really red, father? I never saw a red squirrel.” “Yes, Oscar, it was really red. Now this little squirrel had a friend, a red fox. The little squirrel was visiting the fox. It was time to retire—” “Did they use Fisk tires, pa?” “No, no, I mean they were going to bed—” “Oh, were they married, pa?” “Now, Oscar, keep quiet while I go on with my story, animals do not get married. They decided to take a walk before they went to bed, so they started out through the woods. They had walked about a mile—” “For a Camel, pa?” “No, not for a camel, they were taking a walk for exercise.” “Why didn’t they clip the coupon from Lionel Strongfort’s ad and they wouldn’t have to walk?” , “This was a long time ago now, Oscar, before there was any Lionel Strongfort. This was even before I was born.” “Where were you born, pa?” “Now, now, now, if you want to hear the story you must not ask foolish questions. As they were walking along talking, they heard a “Did they say, ‘Don’t shout, I can hear you,’ pa?” “No, they didn’t, they listened cautiously.” ’a, how do you listen cautiously?” “They were listening to the noise and a little fairy appeared—” “The Fairy Soap fairy, pa?” “No, not the Fairy Soap fairy. It Encuisu Cuaprie—I say,old thing, could you direct me to a bootery? Otp Txinc—Sorry, buddy, I’m on the wagon. —Wituuams Purrte Cow was a real fairy. The fairy whis- pered in the little red squirrel’s ear— “Oh, did the little red squirrel have halitosis, pa?” “For vy you marry Abie’s widow? She's old enough to be your mother vunce, “[ know, but Abie’s clothes fit me like a glove.” —Brown Juc comicbooks.com