A complete issue · 36 pages · 1918
Judge — June 15, 1918
# "An All-Around Army Man" This Judge magazine cover from June 15, 1918 depicts a soldier being embraced by three women, illustrated by David Robinson. The title suggests satirical commentary on military life during World War I. The cartoon likely jokes about soldiers' romantic popularity—a common theme in WWI-era humor. The soldier, laden with military gear and appearing somewhat overwhelmed by the attention, represents the idealized "army man" receiving admiration from civilians (the women appear to represent different social classes or types, suggested by their varied dress). The satire probably comments on either soldiers' status as heroes worthy of attention, or conversely, the somewhat absurd or inconvenient nature of such public adulation during wartime. The "all-around" designation suggests he's considered desirable or worthy of universal approval.
# Analysis of This Page This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes "Nujol," a mineral oil laxative made by Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), for treating constipation. The ad uses four portrait photographs of unnamed individuals (two women at top, a man and woman at bottom) positioned as testimonials—a common advertising technique of the era. The text emphasizes that Nujol is "absolutely harmless" and works "like clockwork" (hence the title "Regular as Clockwork"), positioning it as a gentle, reliable remedy for constipation across all ages and conditions. The framing language about "poisonous ashes" of body fuel reflects early-20th-century medical beliefs about bowel regularity's importance to overall health. This appears to be a standard commercial advertisement rather than editorial cartoon content.
# Posteritis: "Is it a Pastime or a Disease?" This satirical page by H.C. Greening mocks an apparent early 20th-century obsession with poster collecting and display. The cartoons depict the craze as compulsive behavior: a sickbed patient surrounded by posters, outdoor campers covered in poster advertisements, people spending rent money on posters instead of necessities, and a burglar stealing posters rather than valuables. The satire suggests poster collecting had become an excessive cultural phenomenon—people were so enamored with decorative posters (likely advertising and artistic prints that were popular at the time) that it consumed their finances and attention. The title's question—whether this is a hobby or illness—implies the collecting habit had reached pathological proportions among the general public.
