Judge, 1928-06-30 · page 19 of 37
Judge — June 30, 1928 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features sheet music for a novelty song celebrating the naphtha launch—an early motorboat powered by naphtha (a petroleum distillate). The cherub illustration advertising the song reflects the era's enthusiasm for new technology. The lyrics humorously depict courtship aboard this modern vessel. A sailor propositions "Daisy," promising adventure ("sailing in our wonderful naphtha launch") rather than conventional activities like "strolling" or watching "ponies play." The romantic pitch suggests that shared modern thrills—zipping through "salt-y blue" waters—will cement their love. The satire likely targets both technological boosterism and the absurdity of using a speedboat as a seduction device. The "Lantern Slides by S.J. Perelman" credit suggests accompanying visual comedy. This reflects the 1920s-30s fascination with motorization and its promised transformations of leisure and romance—themes Judge frequently mocked.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TENAPTHA LAUNCH! here to stay, Hur-ray, =, == Sail-ing, sail-ing in our a wR bis3) = or won-der-ful nap-tha launch,—— Bound-ing o-ver the bri-ny foam, AR RR fis] eh aA ——== ae ne re how we'll eat when we home! Some may fan-cy stroll-ing and iii fA fa FR =a SS some the po-nies play,— But zip-ping ioe the salt-y blue with FR R ci you is just QO. K.—— ‘Dai - sy, Dai- = give me your an-swer fA OR 4 R #4 ” , could you tearn to love a sai-lor staunch? And i i PROP ORR SS SSS if your love is strong and stout, Im sure we ne-ver shall fall out. But eh a Herc ARN Lantern Slides by S. J. Perelman comicbooks.com