A complete issue · 28 pages · 1917
Judge — April 28, 1917
# "That's Good! Hold That!" This Judge magazine cover from April 28, 1917 depicts a man photographing or painting a cherub (cupid figure) while a woman poses the child. The caption "That's Good! Hold That!" suggests they're capturing an idealized image. The cartoon likely satirizes wartime propaganda or artistic representation during World War I (America had just entered the war weeks before this issue). The cherub traditionally symbolizes innocence and love, so the scene may mock the sanitization or romanticization of war through popular media and art—the instruction to "hold that" pose suggesting the artificial staging of uplifting imagery for public consumption during a brutal conflict. The artist is credited as David Robinson.
# Judge Magazine, April 28, 1917 - Contents Page This is primarily a **contents/advertising page** rather than a cartoon. The left side advertises "Women of All Nations," a two-volume illustrated work describing women across races and climates, emphasizing it as "the only work of its kind." It promotes sections on women's psychology, appearance, and customs from various lands. The right side lists the magazine's contents for this issue, featuring cartoons and articles by various artists and writers. The cover design by David Robinson is noted, along with numerous satirical pieces and drawings addressing social topics typical of 1917 America. The page reflects early 20th-century publishing and illustrates Judge's mix of advertisements, humor, and social commentary.
# "Spring Fever at Yapp's Crossing" This satirical illustration depicts a rural American community gripped by "spring fever"—the restless energy and distraction that arrives with warm weather. The cartoon shows villagers abandoning work and responsibilities: children play, adults idle under a tree, horses pull empty carts, and general chaos reigns. A bandstand or gazebo suggests festive distraction. The satire targets the seasonal loss of productivity and propriety when spring arrives. Signs visible in buildings reference "Miss Reardon's" activities, likely indicating local gossip or romantic entanglements. The illustration's humor lies in contrasting orderly village life with this sudden, spring-induced pandemonium where normal rules dissolve into unfocused merriment and distraction—a universal human experience presented as comic social commentary.
