A complete issue · 28 pages · 1917
Judge — July 28, 1917
# "Telling It to the Marines" This Judge magazine cover from July 28, 1917 uses the phrase "telling it to the Marines"—a contemporary idiom meaning to tell an outlandish lie to someone unlikely to believe it. The cartoon depicts two figures in silhouette whispering to each other while a dog on a leash sits below them. The dog appears skeptical or unimpressed by their conversation. The visual joke plays on the expression: the couple is literally "telling it to" a canine audience, as if the dog represents the Marines—implying their story is so implausible that only a gullible dog (or Marines) would believe it. Published during World War I, the cartoon likely satirizes propaganda or dubious wartime claims circulating at the time.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page (July 28, 1917) The left page advertises a book series called "Women of All Nations," describing illustrated volumes about women's customs, dress, and domestic life across different cultures—from China and India to Arctic regions. The marketing emphasizes anthropological study of how women "look" and behave across races. The right page is a contents listing for Judge magazine's humor articles and illustrations. Notable contributions include political cartoons and satirical pieces, though specific subjects aren't clearly identified in this index. The overall context reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward ethnographic study and colonial-era Western fascination with categorizing non-Western peoples, presented here as educational entertainment for American readers.
# Analysis of "Bill Hess, the Barber, Starts the Fly Swatting Crusade at Yapp's Crossing" This cartoon depicts a busy street scene at "Yapp's Crossing" where various businesses and townspeople gather around a fly-swatting campaign initiated by Bill Hess, a local barber. The visible storefronts include a barbershop (Tristram and Hyatt), a Chamber of Commerce, an ice cream parlor (Chichester's), and other establishments. The satire appears to mock small-town civic enthusiasm—showing how a simple public health initiative (swatting flies, a legitimate Progressive-era hygiene concern) generates bustling community activity and excitement. The crowded, chaotic street scene suggests the humorous overreaction of townspeople to this grassroots crusade, poking fun at small-town culture and civic boosterism typical of Judge magazine's satirical approach.
