Judge, 1927-12-10 · page 19 of 36
Judge — December 10, 1927 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents sheet music for a sympathetic ballad about a young girl forced into bootlegging during Prohibition. The narrative depicts a copper (police officer) stopping a man transporting illegal alcohol, then moralizing about the girl who helps her father distribute rum—describing her as impoverished, poorly clothed, and destined for early death. The satire targets the hypocrisy and cruelty of Prohibition enforcement. The "red ballad" (suggesting socialist or labor-sympathetic themes) uses melodrama to mock law enforcement's moral posturing while ignoring the desperation driving families into illegal alcohol trade. The cop's sanctimonious reproach rings hollow against the girl's actual circumstances: starvation, inadequate clothing, and exploitation. The accompanying illustration shows the girl with an umbrella in harsh weather, reinforcing her vulnerability. S.J. Perelman created these "Lantern Slides" (visual accompaniments to songs).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GE a i FRSA RR AR ORR == ts == = ae of his way Cai She tot-tered-was a-bout to fall - a cop - per stood be-bween, And wrapped them round herframe’Come dear |i! buy you pret-ty dol warm clothes and pro-per food, Those _f id Roost A BRR ——— SS ee grave-ly he re-proached the man ee what a cur held been: She’ on- ly a boot-leg-ger's soal-ding words no long - er mean what oth-er wise they would Raanm 2 Ramm mm mae em CaS pe EES le LG ‘ child, boys, yet she has a right to live; Hel- ping her dad-dy by ped-dling his nN) gf ct fee a, i SSS Se aa | rum, Trust-ing that pi-ty will give; Out in the wild-est of wea-ther, | Eid il si i ? & Sores == = \ Garbed in an old tat-tered shawl, Star-ving and chilled, soon her pulse will be fh FAR, FA FRA AS Se stilled-- She’ a leof off life tree soon to fall!” Lantern Slides y -S.3. PERELMAN comicbooks.com