A complete issue · 36 pages · 1918
Judge — April 13, 1918
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, April 13, 1918 This satirical cover depicts a woman with an exaggerated shocked expression, holding what appears to be a letter or document. The caption reads "Well, the Nerve of Some People!" The image likely satirizes public reaction to audacious social behavior or correspondence during World War I era. The woman's theatrical surprise—wide mouth, raised eyebrows—suggests she's received something unexpected or impertinent. Without additional context identifying the specific letter's contents or the figure depicted, the exact target of satire remains unclear, though it appears to mock either bold social transgressions or the sanctimonious outrage they provoked among certain groups. The "Notice to Reader" box suggests additional explanatory content existed elsewhere in the magazine.
# Analysis This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It advertises Nujol, a laxative made by Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) in Bayonne. The image shows a well-dressed businessman reading at his desk, seemingly productive and fit. The ad's pitch claims that most human illness stems from constipation, and that Nujol provides relief. The tagline "Regular as Clockwork" emphasizes the product's reliability. The appeal to "business man and business woman" reflects early 20th-century marketing targeting working professionals. The claim that it's "absolutely harmless" was typical of patent medicine advertising from this era, before strict FDA regulations. This represents a period when laxatives were heavily marketed as cure-alls for general wellness.
# "The Man Who Stayed Behind" by Owen B. Winters This poem satirizes a man left stateside while others deploy militarily. The illustration shows soldiers marching toward boats while a figure remains behind, gesturing futilely. The speaker boasts of military service ("Islands," "Cuba," "Pekin to Honolulu"), but now watches others depart while he's sidelined—apparently due to a knee injury ("medico won't let me go, / For my right's off at the knee"). The satire targets the emotional conflict: his embarrassment at staying behind while displaying patriotic enthusiasm ("cheer and a hearty / 'Here, here!'") masks frustration at missing action. The title and subtitle ("As They're Headin' For Their Boat") emphasize his exclusion from military service, likely referencing early-20th-century American military engagements.
