Judge, 1928-03-24 · page 19 of 36
Judge — March 24, 1928 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents sheet music for a cautionary ballad titled "Ballads," likely from the early 20th century. The song is a moralistic warning to men about the dangers of city life and temptation. The lyrics warn against various urban vices: don't buy lobster suppers for show women, don't flirt with other men's wives, and avoid a "fast or sporting life." The refrain emphasizes that once morally "broken," one cannot recover respectability. The satire targets both working-class men vulnerable to city temptations and the hypocritical moral panic of the era. The accompanying illustrations—a cherub blowing a trumpet and a scene with two men and a woman—reinforce the melodramatic, preachy tone. S.J. Perelman is credited, suggesting this is humorous social commentary disguised as earnest moral instruction. It mockingly presents Victorian-era anxieties about urban corruption of innocent rural or working-class virtue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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