A complete issue · 36 pages · 1918
Judge — March 2, 1918
# "Excess Baggage" - Judge Magazine, March 2, 1918 This cartoon satirizes military burdens during World War I. The large caricatured figure in a military uniform carries an enormous bag stuffed with supplies and equipment, while a small child (representing either a dependent or civilian) tugs at his leg. The title "Excess Baggage" suggests the cartoon critiques either: - Military overburden with unnecessary supplies or bureaucratic weight - The financial/logistical strain of supporting dependents during wartime - Possibly soldiers weighted down by unnecessary military apparatus The exaggerated caricature and grotesque features were common Judge magazine satirical style. The "Notice to Readers" box indicates wartime sensitivity about content, suggesting this may address a controversial aspect of the war effort or military organization.
# Analysis This is **not a satirical cartoon** but rather a **straightforward cigarette advertisement** for Lucky Strike brand cigarettes, published in *Judge* magazine (likely 1917-1918, based on internal dating). The ad celebrates Lucky Strike's massive sales success—15 million cigarettes daily by late 1917, just months after launch in January 1917. The key marketing claim is that cigarettes are "toasted," differentiating them from competitors. The imagery shows the product and includes a hand offering a toasted element, reinforcing the "It's toasted" slogan. The American Tobacco Company guarantees the product. By modern standards, this represents pre-regulation tobacco advertising that made health/quality claims without scientific basis. The rapid growth cited reflects early 20th-century cigarette marketing's effectiveness before health warnings existed.
# Der Cherman Code of Arms This satirical coat of arms, drawn by Albert Levering, appears to mock Imperial Germany through a heraldic parody. The design incorporates German imperial symbols (the double-headed eagle, coat of arms shown in the corner) but subverts them with darker imagery. The central tower contains crosses and religious iconography, while surrounding figures hold flags reading "Women and Children First" and "Scrap of Paper"—likely referencing Germany's violation of Belgian neutrality during WWI, which German officials dismissed as a mere "scrap of paper." Text labels include "Poison," "Liberty," "Spy System," and "Might Prevails"—portraying German militarism as relying on chemical weapons, espionage, and brutal force rather than legitimate authority. This is anti-German propaganda from the WWI era.
