Judge, 1926-08-28 · page 8 of 36
Judge — August 28, 1926 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains three satirical pieces reflecting early 20th-century American concerns: **"Shake Well Before Using"**: A darkly comic story where a drug clerk tells a lengthy anecdote about his brother Charley, whose domineering wife forced him to eat pickles for his nerves. The punchline: Charley bought a gun instead, shot at a light, and claimed it would be "better for the nerves." The couple became loving afterward. The listener, a sunburned man, responds by asking where to buy a .38 revolver—implying he wants to shoot his own nagging wife. The satire mocks domestic unhappiness and marital discord. **"Funny Bones"**: A one-liner joke about the era's economic preoccupation with down payments, suggesting widespread consumer debt anxiety. **"How to Test Hootch"**: Humorous instructions for testing bootleg alcohol quality during Prohibition, reflecting the era's illegal drinking culture. The visual cartoons humorously depict sunburn victims and courtroom proceedings, supporting these themes of domestic frustration and period-specific social issues.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE SS “Howsa boy?” > In the famous Sunburn Murder Trial the jury found the defendant (left) not guilty, without leaving the box. Shake Well Before Using “Twast to get something for sun- burn,” the meek little man queried the drug clerk. “Well, well, well, something for sunburn, eh? Been swimming, eh? Like to swim, do you?” The little man shook his head doggedl. “Nope, but my wife does. “Well, well, well, likes to swim, does she? Takes you with her, eh?” The clerk rested his arms sympathet- ically on the counter. “That's what I calls a dirty shame sir, a dirty shame. A man E nd then for his in the hot sun just so hi: can show off a new bathing suit and he gets sunburned and can’t sleep at nights and that’s the only fun of his vacation. Fine fun. Reminds me of my brother Charley. His old woman w a holy terror, just like yours. Yessir. Sing Sing would a been a holiday for him. Well, she ruled the roost for twenty years, but one fine day she sent him to town to buy some pickles. Charley never liked pickles but she alw made him eat them because she said it was good for his nerves. Something happened to Charley that day because instead of pickles he brought home the cutest little gun you ever saw. His wife FUNNYBONES, The paramount question before the country to-day is, “How much is the down payment?” \ = ig Uudge pays $5 for each one printed\_ asks him, she says: ‘Where are the pickles’ and Charley takes a pot shot at a light and says: ‘I thought a change in menu would be better for the nerves.” Funny thing; never saw a more loving and couple than they are shows you what a queer world it is. But here I've been keeping you waiting all this time—now what was it you wanted?” the clerk asked briskly. The little man had a far-away look on his eyes as he softly questioned: “T was just wondering where I could buy a .38.” Leonard MacTagart now—it just How to Test Hootch Pour a little in a flat dish and * set fire to it. If it burns with a clear blue flame it’s bad. If it burns with a clear green flame, it's worse. 2. Bite your finger and drop some in the wound. If it hurts, stop. 3. Smell it! 4. Drop an onion in the bottle. If it floats there’s something the matter with the onion. 5. Give the ice man a drink. If he doesn’t make a face, it’s Red Grange. 6. Drink it. Paul Ernest Victim of sunburn, having been slapped on the back by one friend—follows the adage, that “The best defense is a strong attack.” t ny comicbooks.com