Judge, 1931-06-13 · page 6 of 36
Judge — June 13, 1931 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Judge" Page Analysis: "The City Limit" This page contains two satirical pieces. The main sketch, "The City Limit," depicts a sheriff questioning a stranger (presumably a newly-arrived visitor) about suspicious activity—empty whiskey bottles in his hotel room, visits to gambling halls. The stranger denies wrongdoing, claiming he doesn't drink. The satire targets hypocrisy: the sheriff threatens to expel him for moral misconduct while the town itself appears rife with vice (gambling establishments, drinking). The "Observation" section below offers miscellaneous social commentary, including jokes about nervous expectant fathers, modern department stores, pedestrian safety, and marital dynamics. The cartoon satirizes frontier/small-town law enforcement selectively enforcing morality while tolerating widespread corruption—a common Judge magazine theme critiquing American civic standards and selective justice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE THE CITY LIMIT re here, stranger, I'm the Sheriff of this town, Me and the Mayor have been hearin’ things about you and we'd like to ask you a few questions.” “Why-er-yes—certainly.” ou came here on the first of April, is that rig es.” “You all been livin’ here at the Central Hotel with your lawful wedded wif es indeed, yes. “We understand you were seen near the Eldorado Gam bling Palace last night.” f “Not me. I've never been in bling hall in my life.’ ee “You didn’t, ch? Well, how ut allt e empty whisky / bottles we found in your hotel bedroom ? “That couldn't have been my never drink and neither docs my wif “Well, in that case, I think we have a complete case or and [ give you two hours to sry conduct as yours will not be erated here. The fair name of Reno must be upheld.” rerilf, You see, I out of town, “Good Lord, they've drained the pool!” Observation I’ a hitch-hiker hikes Much more than he hitches, He'll wear out his shoes Instead of his breeches, In the old days when one s: walking nervously about the room of a lying guess him to be now: a man waiting in hospital, one could r expectant father. But ays nine times out of ten he's a Broadway columnist. And Dora, after a week-end in the country, wants to know when mosquitoes sleep. Our idea of a super-modern depart- ment store is one which features a sign reading: Alimony Checks Cashed Here. If the pedestrian looked before he leaped he wouldn't have to leap. And the game of matrimony is on when the wife tosses out the first bill. About five years ago this would be a good spot for a good joke about channel swimmers, And the news of the day seems mostly to be dealing with “booze and ships and stealing rackets, and cabarets and kings.” “T'll just put these pins together for them—I wouldn't mind doing these extra things once in a while if they'd only notice it.” 4 comicbooks.com