Judge — June 12, 1920

# Analysis This page is primarily **advertising**, not political satire. The image shows a formal street scene with well-dressed men and women in early 20th-century attire standing near an ornate architectural column or post. The caption reads: "The Vacuum Cup Tread is GUARANTEED not to skid on wet, slippery pavements." This is a product advertisement for **Vacuum Cup Tread** shoe soles or treads. The photograph demonstrates the product's safety feature by showing people in formal dress standing confidently on what appears to be wet pavement near the decorative column. The image implicitly argues that the treaded sole prevents slipping—a practical safety concern for urban pedestrians on wet city streets. There is no political cartoon or satirical commentary on this page.

# Judge Magazine, June 14, 1920 - Cartoon Analysis This cartoon satirizes divorce proceedings and spousal support disputes. A lawyer addresses a female client (likely seeking alimony), while a man (presumably her husband) listens in the background. The lawyer tells the woman her requested alimony is "excessive" and that her husband "could never pay it," then suggests the husband "should be able to, now that he hasn't me to support." The joke targets the legal profession itself—the lawyer implies he was a financial burden on the husband, and now that the lawyer is no longer involved, the husband should have more money. It's a self-aware, somewhat cynical jab at lawyers' fees during divorce proceedings, suggesting legal costs drain client resources more than spousal support obligations do.

# Political Cartoon Analysis This Judge magazine cartoon, titled "Just After the Birth of the Constitution," depicts three men toasting with a bottle labeled with what appears to be a parrot or bird. The caption reads: "Gentlemen! May the Constitution of the U.S.A. Be a Healthy One!" The satire appears to celebrate the U.S. Constitution's creation, using the metaphor of a newborn infant requiring health and strength. The three figures likely represent Founding Fathers or political figures of the era, raising a celebratory toast to the newly "born" Constitution. However, without more specific identifying features or additional context, I cannot definitively identify which particular Founders are depicted or pinpoint the exact historical moment being referenced. The cartoon's basic meaning—wishing constitutional governance success—is clear, but deeper political significance remains uncertain.

# The Partial Eclipses of Blibber **The Cartoon:** The top illustration depicts a social scene with four figures and large decorative urns. A woman apologizes to a man for missing a dance because her "trunks haven't yet arrived." The man responds sarcastically: "Good Lord, young lady, what sort of dance do you think this is going to be?" **The Joke:** The satire targets the absurdity of using excessive luggage as an excuse for social obligations. The woman's concern with trunks (suitcases) over attending an event is mocked as ridiculous vanity—she's prioritizing material possessions over social commitments. This reflects early 20th-century critiques of wealthy society women's preoccupation with material goods and appearances. **Below** begins a serialized mystery story titled "The Partial Eclipses of Blibber" by Gelett Burgess, unrelated to the cartoon.

# Analysis of This Judge Magazine Page This page contains two distinct illustrations accompanying a serialized fiction story titled "Undertaking an Undertaker" (Chapter III), about a character named Harlem Screech who is an undertaker. The **top silhouette illustration** shows figures in what appears to be a séance scene, accompanying dialogue about "that mean old ghost who refused to show up at the séance we attended." The **bottom illustration** depicts two men in period clothing standing near a railway car or mobile structure, with a caption reading "Of Course It's Practical, Henry. We Could Sleep at One End and Do Our Cooking at the Other." Neither illustration appears to contain political satire or caricature. This seems to be primarily **entertainment/fiction content** rather than political commentary—typical of Judge's mixed editorial approach combining humor, satire, and serialized stories.

# Analysis of "That Obliterated Feeling" This appears to be a humorous detective/mystery story rather than political satire. The illustration shows three well-dressed figures in a drawing room, illustrating the narrative below. The story concerns detective Ferret investigating a suspicious box delivered to Cypress Grove Cemetery addressed to "Dr. B. Blibber." Ferret sneaks into the cemetery at midnight and discovers the box contains stone jugs marked "Nearlife" and labeled "for internal use only"—clearly a reference to illegal alcohol. **The satire targets Prohibition enforcement**: The joke is that someone is smuggling liquor into a cemetery, of all places, to hide it from authorities. The absurdist humor—hiding bootleg alcohol in a tomb, the detective's melodramatic fear in the graveyard—mocks both the ridiculousness of Prohibition and the lengths people went to circumvent it. This reflects the magazine's likely skepticism toward Prohibition policies popular during the 1920s-30s, presenting law-breakers sympathetically through comedic storytelling.

# "An Accomplished Rat" - Analysis This story satirizes racial stereotypes through a confidence scheme. Riley Green, a cattle auctioneer, tricks his Black servant Uncle Phil with a fabricated letter from "Mr. Lillard" about a supposedly remarkable rat that can sing and talk. The letter is a con—Lillard is actually returning a troublesome rat and demanding more money, claiming it's "exceptional" to swindle Riley into paying extra. Uncle Phil's dialect-heavy responses ("Yassuh," "Marse Riley") and credulity are played for comedic effect, as he logically escalates the rat's impossible abilities—ultimately declaring it must be a "flyin' rat" to meet his standards. The satire targets both the white confidence man and the caricatured Black character. The other cartoons ("On This Plum Planet," "The Conservation of Paper") are separate political/social jokes about railroads and government regulation.

# "Waste of Effort" by Walt Mason (Judge Magazine) This is a satirical essay with an accompanying illustration mocking political activism and social reform efforts. The cartoon depicts a man relaxing on clouds in space, smoking—representing apathetic resignation. The text chronicles Mason's journey from young idealist to cynical pragmatist. He once wrote angry articles denouncing government corruption and vice, believing activism could change society. Now, older and "wiser," he realizes such efforts are futile: the government continues regardless, corrupt officials ignore protests, and the public pursues pleasure instead of virtue. The satire's target is ambiguous—it could mock either the futility of reform *or* the defeatist attitude itself. The phrase "The Wise Men say the world is crazed" suggests Mason ironically questions whether resignation truly represents wisdom. The essay ultimately endorses passivity ("I sit and smoke and let things slide"), leaving readers uncertain whether Mason endorses this stance or critiques it as moral surrender.

# Explanation for Modern Readers This page from *Judge* magazine contains satirical humor from the early 20th century. **"From their Wives' Diaries"** is a series of short quips where famous historical/literary figures' wives complain about their husbands' shortcomings—Shakespeare isn't handy, Paul (likely a reference to a public figure) doesn't apply himself, Napoleon can't use utensils properly. The humor relies on the contrast between these men's legendary status and their domestic inadequacy. **"One of Twelve Good Men and True"** is a poem about jury duty's tedium. The narrator sits bored through testimony while outside, nature blooms indifferently. The twist ending—observing two robins fighting—suggests that even nature mirrors human quarreling, so there's no escaping pettiness anywhere. Both pieces use gentle mockery of pretension and human nature. The cartoons' crude woodcut style and the magazine's satirical stance aimed at educated readers familiar with classical and historical references.

# "Two of a Kind" by J.A. Waldron This is a short story (not a political cartoon) depicting early 20th-century bachelor life among wealthy young men. The illustration shows a formal dinner scene where a ring is being passed around for inspection—likely an engagement ring. The narrative concerns two wealthy friends, "Bally" Brown and "Kit" Hurley, who both scorn marriage as "slavery." When Bally falls instantly in love with the beautiful Adelaide Sharp at a debutante ball, Kit remains unmoved by her charms. Bally becomes engaged, while Kit—true to his word—prepares to lose his friend to matrimony. The satire gently mocks male bravado about bachelorhood and the sudden, inexplicable power of romantic attraction to overturn sworn principles. The story represents typical Judge magazine fiction: light social commentary on courtship and marriage customs among the leisure class, with no apparent political content.

# Explanation for Modern Readers This page contains two separate pieces from *Judge* magazine: **Main Story (top):** A romantic comedy about a bachelor dinner where an engagement ring causes confusion. "Kit" announces his engagement to Miss Delafield, but guests initially mistake her ring for Miss Sharp's (Kit's former fiancée). Kit gracefully handles the awkward moment by allowing departing guests to leave discreetly through his bedroom, preserving everyone's dignity. The humor relies on social embarrassment and class-conscious discretion typical of early 20th-century etiquette satire. **"A Recruiting Echo" (bottom section):** References German military recruitment during WWI, mentioning Belgian villages and conscription. The specific details are partially cut off, but it appears to satirize wartime recruitment propaganda or its effects on civilians. The illustration shows a woman at a window, likely depicting the domestic impact of war. Without seeing the complete text, the exact satirical point remains unclear.

# "Your Wife's Dearest Friends" This satirical article by I.B. Birdsall catalogs social types of women the author considers tiresome or ridiculous. The accompanying illustration shows three figures in what appears to be a domestic scene—likely depicting one of these stereotyped "wife's friends." The article targets various female archetypes: the garrulous woman who gushes about everything; the childless society matron; the aspiring feminist orator; the sanctimonious woman who judges "movie actors" while being naive herself; and the social climber Mrs. McKees Rox, who pretentiously seeks "real Omar Khayyam" Persian rugs for her nouveau-riche home. The satire mocks women's social pretensions, reformist zeal, and class-climbing behavior—common Judge magazine targets. The final exchange about Persian rugs suggests ridicule of wealthy women's affected taste and empty snobbery. This reflects early 20th-century attitudes dismissing women's social activities and aspirations as frivolous.