Judge — November 22, 1919

# Analysis This page is **primarily a cigarette advertisement**, not political satire. It promotes Prince Albert pipe and cigarette tobacco by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The ad uses a generic smiling man's portrait—not a specific historical or political figure—as the brand mascot "Prince Albert." The text humorously exaggerates the product's appeal, claiming it makes smoking so pleasurable that users will be constantly reaching for "just one more little smoke." References to "General Apropos" and "regular-man-sport" appear to be playful language designed to make smoking seem manly and accessible to ordinary citizens, rather than elite or pretentious. The "national joy smoke" tagline reflects early 20th-century tobacco marketing that presented smoking as wholesome entertainment. The page contains no discernible political commentary—it's straightforward product promotion typical of Judge magazine's advertising.

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cartoon (November 22, 1919) This cartoon by Oliver Herford depicts a bird—likely a duck or similar waterfowl—confronting what appears to be a young soldier or hunter with a rifle. The caption reads: "The good to eat die young! The paths of glory lead but to the grave!" The satire appears to reference World War I, which ended just days before this publication (November 11, 1919). The cartoon criticizes the sacrifice of young soldiers, juxtaposing the predatory relationship between hunter and hunted with the loss of youth in warfare. The quote invokes both mortality and the famous line from Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard," suggesting that glory and honor are hollow consolations for death. The cartoon condemns the waste of young lives in military conflict.

# Analysis: "A Fervent Thanksgiving By the Bread-Winning Father" **The Scene:** A working-class man sits with a woman and child, while two stern-looking men observe from a doorway. **The Satire:** The title ironically references a father's "fervent thanksgiving"—likely for employment or economic stability. The presence of the observing figures (appearing to be authority figures or creditors) suggests the family's gratitude is conditional or overshadowed by financial pressure. The sketched newspapers on the floor may reference economic news or job listings. **Historical Context:** This appears to address early 20th-century working-class anxieties about employment, housing, and economic security. The "bread-winning father" was a culturally important ideal, but this cartoon suggests his gratitude is performed under duress rather than genuine relief. The satire critiques how working families' thanksgiving celebrations occur amid persistent financial strain.

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page The main cartoon depicts a figure in winter clothing standing by a crude shelter marked "Ye Ultimist" in a snowy landscape. The figure expresses gratitude that there are "None of Ye Mosquitoes!"—a joke about extreme winter conditions making mosquitoes disappear. The article "Thanksgiving and Taking" by Clef Shafer discusses Thanksgiving traditions and costs. It notes that turkey prices have risen significantly compared to previous years, and mentions a humorous anecdote about someone who bought a goose instead of a turkey the previous year, only to discover it had laid golden eggs. The lower section includes a small illustration titled "New England Chicken" and a brief humorous dialogue called "His Intention" about heavenly aspirations. The page appears primarily satirical commentary on holiday economics and rural/frontier life rather than explicit political commentary.

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains three separate pieces of humor rather than unified political commentary: 1. **"Practice Makes Perfect"**: A domestic joke about a husband practicing carving wooden decoys for Thanksgiving dinner, misunderstanding his wife's complaint about the "spring-goods store" sending up wooden birds. 2. **"Wanted"** and **"He Made Good"**: Brief humorous anecdotes about domestic life—one asking who creates alluring food illustrations in ads, another depicting a husband returning with sugar after being sent for coffee. 3. **"Mildewed"**: A one-liner about public opinion being difficult to change because it's already formed. 4. **"Willis—Darn it!"**: A cartoon showing a child learning to smoke on Thanksgiving morning, caught by family members in the next room. These are light domestic humor pieces typical of Judge magazine's general entertainment content, without apparent political satire or social commentary.

# Explanation for Modern Readers This is satirical commentary on women's suffrage activism, specifically mocking the ineffectiveness of a poorly-attended suffrage meeting. Miss C. organized what should have been a prominent gathering in an exclusive neighborhood, but only one attendee (Mrs. G.) showed up. To avoid embarrassment before the newspaper reporter sent to cover the event, Miss C. and Mrs. G. deceived her by claiming a meeting was "in progress" while actually holding a fake election of absent women who never consented to be nominated. The satire targets the disconnect between suffragists' grand ambitions and their actual grassroots support—and their willingness to fabricate success rather than honestly report failure to the press. The title "A Reporter Hoodwinked" emphasizes the deception as the story's focal point. This reflects early-20th-century skepticism about women's political organizing and their credibility.

# Judge Magazine Cartoon Analysis This is a comic strip satirizing American Thanksgiving traditions and domestic life, centered on the obsessive pursuit of the perfect turkey dinner. The unnamed male protagonist—appearing to be an ordinary householder—becomes increasingly consumed with arranging an elaborate Thanksgiving feast, moving from initial enthusiasm through anxiety about securing the turkey and grindstone (for knife-sharpening), to frantically organizing guest lists and managing social obligations. The satire targets the commercialization and social pretension surrounding Thanksgiving, where what should be a simple family meal becomes an exhausting performance of hospitality and status-consciousness. The repeated guest-of-honor references suggest competitive social entertaining. By the final panels, his wife's deadpan responses highlight the absurdity of his elaborate schemes—the humor lies in contrasting his overwrought preparations against her pragmatic indifference, a common marital dynamic in early 20th-century domestic comedy.

# Political and Social Satire in Judge Magazine **"It's in the Air"** cartoon depicts a traffic policeman confronting drivers whose vehicles have stalled in sympathy with a striking "flivver" (Model T Ford). This satirizes labor unrest of the 1920s—workers striking for higher wages and sympathetic work stoppages that disrupted commerce and daily life. **"Song of Thanksgiving"** by Amos Allen catalogs post-WWI anxieties: Prohibition, labor strikes, war profiteering, Congressional corruption, and failed international diplomacy (the League of Nations). The poem's refrain suggests readers would "go crazy" without humor to cope—Judge itself provides this relief. **Other pieces** include humorous domestic sketches ("Her Amazing Eccentricity," "Modernity") and brief jokes about income tax and marriage, typical of the magazine's lighthearted social commentary. The page reflects early 1920s American frustrations: economic instability, political cynicism, and social upheaval following World War I.

# Explanation for Modern Readers This is the title page and opening editorial of Judge magazine (dated 11-22-19, likely November 1919). The masthead illustration shows a courtroom scene with "JUDGE" presiding—a visual pun on the magazine's name. **Main Content:** The editorial "We are Thankful Because" is a Thanksgiving piece celebrating American ideals: democracy, high wages, and distinctly American values. It's patriotic satire with gentle mockery of different American types (Cavaliers, Puritans). **"Shall We Stay Immortal Monkeys?"** satirizes a real contemporary medical claim: a Parisian surgeon allegedly restored youth to elderly men by grafting ape glands onto them. Judge ridicules both the implausible procedure and humanity's desperate longing for immortality—imagining old men suddenly climbing trees and cracking nuts, younger people scheming to either shoot the apes or wait for Judgment Day. **The "To Our Readers" box** explains a labor dispute between printing unions in New York forced Judge to temporarily relocate production. This explains potential delays—a pragmatic disclosure wrapped in reassurance. The page blends satire, current events commentary, and light humor typical of early-20th-century American magazines.

# "Sour Philosophy" - Satirical Commentary on Pessimistic Wisdom This satirical piece by Walt Mason critiques philosophers and moralists who preach gloomy doctrines that discourage life's pleasures. The illustration shows a well-dressed, elderly man (representing conventional wisdom/the "sour philosopher") gesturing disapprovingly at a young woman in an embrace—embodying the clash between restrictive moral teaching and youthful vitality. Mason's text mocks three prevalent pieties: that "beauty is skin deep" (so why pursue attractive women?), that wealth is sinful (so avoid success), and that honesty alone matters (ignoring that dishonest people prosper). The satire's point: these grim philosophies paralyze followers into poverty and joylessness while offering no practical benefit. Mason advocates instead for a "chipper, gay and blithe" approach to life—embracing pleasure and opportunity rather than self-denying asceticism. The cartoon ridicules moralizing hypocrisy that restricts common people while the world's actual winners ignore such advice.

# Analysis This is a humorous illustration titled "The Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot at Yapp's Crossing," drawn by Johnny Gruelle for *Judge* magazine (dated 11-22-19, so November 1919). The cartoon depicts a chaotic small-town scene centered on a turkey shoot—a popular competitive sport where participants shoot at targets, with turkeys as prizes. The image shows: - Various storefronts labeled with period businesses (bakery, fish market, groceries) - Numerous townspeople engaged in shooting activities and celebrations - Children playing with toy guns and vehicles - A festive, somewhat anarchic atmosphere The satire appears to mock small-town American life and holiday traditions, portraying the turkey shoot as a communal event that draws the entire village into competitive, gun-focused revelry. The chaotic composition and numerous simultaneous activities suggest gentle mockery of rural American customs and the earnestness of holiday celebrations in provincial communities.