Judge, 1893-12-09 · page 33 of 52
Judge — December 9, 1893 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**Top cartoon**: A hansom cab driver overhears a marriage proposal and offers to serve as witness in a potential breach-of-promise lawsuit. The joke mocks the legal vulnerability of men making marriage proposals—a common Victorian concern. If a man proposed and then refused to marry, the woman could sue for damages. The driver's casual willingness to testify treats this serious legal threat as routine street gossip. **Bottom cartoon**: A stranger (Jones) asks an unknown young woman to dance at a hotel. When she protests they haven't been introduced, he replies they're equally taking chances—he's risking rejection, she's risking association with an unknown man. The humor mocks both social etiquette rigidity and Jones's clumsy attempt at gallantry by suggesting their social risks are equivalent (they clearly aren't). Both sketches satirize Victorian courtship anxieties and social formality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE DANGER OF “POPPING” IN A HANSOM. Tue DRIVER (tho has listened o the momentous question)—"' You can hold him to his word, mum. I heard him propose, an’ when you start your breach- o'-promise you just call on me for your witness,” AT A LAKEWOOD HOTEL. (Poor Jones is an entire stranger to the ladies, and the boys are mean and will not introduce him ; but he plucks up courage and steps up to a young lady.) ES—" May I have the pleasure of your company for the next dance?” SrkaNck YOUNG LaDy (i surprise)—* I—T have not the pleasure of your acquaintance, sir.” Jones—"* Well, you don’t take any more chances than I do.” comicbooks.com