Judge, 1928-01-07 · page 11 of 36
Judge — January 7, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* contains three separate pieces mocking Scottish stereotypes: 1. **"An Englishman Tells a Scotch Story"**: A nonsensical narrative (deliberately incoherent) where two Scotsmen bet on staying underwater and drown. The joke plays on the era's stereotype of Scots as foolish and willing to bet on anything. 2. **"Citation of Merit"**: Sandy MacGregor, a thirsty Scottish soldier, leads his suffering companions not to the nearby river for water, but through "swinging doors" to buy rounds of drinks instead—sacrificing his money rather than solving their actual problem. This ridicules Scots as heavy drinkers prioritizing alcohol over survival. 3. **"The Firth of Forth"**: A pun-heavy piece about Scotland's geography, wordplay on "firth/forth." The bottom cartoon warns it's unlucky to light more than fifteen pipes from one match—mocking Scottish thriftiness and pipe-smoking. All pieces rely on ethnic caricature: Scots portrayed as drunk, foolish, cheap, and irrational. This reflects early 20th-century American humor's casual reliance on national/ethnic stereotyping for laughs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
™ An Englishman Tells a Scotch Story One Scotchman bet another Scotchman that he could stay under water and he went ¢ when he bought a scorecard the neither team saw the Miracle so he opened up the windows to keep from wearing out the glass and they sent him to the lunatic asylum for picking the five dollar hills up and giving them b: the Jew. It seems like m: cost a penny a box so the Si man tried to light his cigar in the fireplace and it doesn’t make him a bit mad to hear these stories about himself as long as it don’t cost him anything but they both drowned. James J. McCreery, Citation of Merit Sandy MacGregor made the supreme sacrifice ! For days not a drop of water had passed the lips of the sturdy Highlander; and his battered companions were in a similar plight. The blazing sun beat down upon them in unabated fury. A scant hundred yards to the south was the river. Scurry- ing birds swooping low in the skies could betoken nothing but the approach of modern navies of the air, Something had to be done. Sandy's buddies looked — help- lessly to him for deliverance from their torture. He could ease their ago could assuage their pain! With a sudden gesture of de- termination, Sandy squared his shoulders and beckoned — the others to follow. Crashing through the swinging doors. he flung a half crown on the bar and demanded a round of drinks! Greater love hath no Scot lone, only he The Firth of Forth The Firth of Forth in the firth place, is the firth firth of forth to be forthed out of Ireland. They forthwith forthed their way into Scotland and thereforth settled in the Firth Foreth and lived happily forever after. JUDGE Ix Scottanp It's considered unlucky to light more than fifteen pipes from ane match comicbooks.com