Judge, 1937-02 · page 10 of 45
Judge — February 1937 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Times Do Change" (1907-1937) This two-panel cartoon contrasts American attitudes toward stability and rootedness across three decades. In 1907, a father scolds his son for wanting to leave the farm, insisting that staying put and building roots is the path to success. The advice reflects early 20th-century agrarian values: stability equals prosperity. By 1937, the same scenario is inverted. Now a mobile parent rushes their reluctant son into a trailer, dismissing his attachment to place as foolish. The family constantly relocates—they've already parked there a week, drove 90 miles before retrieving a lost child. The satire captures how the Great Depression and automobile culture fundamentally shifted American life from settled agricultural communities to mobile, transient existence. What was once virtuous (staying rooted) became obsolete; what was once foolish (constant movement) became necessity or lifestyle. The identical punchline emphasizes the irony: both fathers threaten to "tan your hide" if the child runs away—yet one anchors home, the other treats it as temporary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Times Do Change 1907 “Son, get the idea out of your head that you've got to go somewhere else to make good. You'll never get anywhere by jumping from place to place. The best thing in the world for you is to stay right here. My father and his father found this a mighty good place to stick to. And it's # food enough place for you. Stay in one place, get some roots in the ground and you'll amount to something. You'll never find a better place than home, right here on the old farm, and T'll just tell you this: If I ever hear you talking about running away from home again I'll tan your hide good!” 1937 “Hurry up, Junior! We're almost ready to go! Well, what are you crying about? Oh, you like it around here? Don't be silly. Why, we've had the trailer parked here for a week already. You don't sappose we're going to stay here forever, do you? Come on, now, we'll be ready to start in a few minutes and I want you to be right here. Last time we drove ninety miles before your mother found out you weren't up in front with me, and then we had to go back and get you. This time I want you “But I never touched him, I tell you—he just when I toot the horn, understand? And 4 if you let home run away from you again beat me to the punch!” I'll tan your hide good!" Special Order “What's yours?” “A ham sandwich and coffee, please.” “What?” “Ham sandwich and coffee.” “Ham sandwich isn't on the menu, but I can give you a sandwich with ham init . . . like a Sunset Special.” “What's that?” “A triple decker with ham, cheese, tongue, baloney, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle and mayonnaise on raisin bread, toasted with cole slaw on the side.” “Look: have you any ham?” “Yes, sir.” “White bread?” “Yes, sir.” “Could you place a piece of ham be. tween two slices of white bread and serve same to me on a plate?” “Why, sure. Oh, George! One Sunset Special. Make it on one deck. Hold the cheese, tongue, baloney, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle, mayonnaise and cole slaw and make the raisin bread white, . . untoasted. . . . Right?” "We may be a little crowded tonight, honeylamb; I’ve lost —NOorMAN INGERSOLL. the key to my handcuffs!” Judge comicbooks.com