Judge, 1895-05-04 · page 3 of 16
Judge — May 4, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Queen of the May" Page This Judge magazine page satirizes women's housing challenges in early 20th-century America. The title illustration depicts a woman enthroned as "Queen of the May," surrounded by landlords displaying "VACANT" signs—mocking how difficult women found securing suitable apartments. The dialogue section "WHY SHE DIDN'T MOVE" features Mrs. Dorset and Mrs. Cohaggier discussing flat-hunting. The satire centers on architectural and social prejudices: male architects design flats without considering women's needs, and landlords discriminate against female tenants, particularly regarding pets and respectability. The bottom cartoon humorously shows landlords rejecting tenants over minor concerns (a dog in the flat), highlighting the absurdity of housing discrimination against women.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UP-TO-DATE REVISED VERSION OF THE TENNYSONIAN IDYL—WITIC APOLOGIES, [F YOU'RE wakened very early, in the morning chill and drear, He smashes china like a Jap ; mahogany he scratches on ; By a ringing and a thumping that strike terror to the ear, Oil paintings suit him very well for striking parlor matches on. You'll know your time is come at last—the maddest, merriest day, In the street enthroned, he rests at last. like Hercules, from his labors ; When all the world is moving, and the truckman holdeth sway. Your ** busted” trunks and wardrobes hide no secrets from the neighbors. On May the first he does his worst, and revels in the wreck. te wrestles with your statuettes, and beats them—by a neck. Piano-fortes he yanks apart, put them together who can | For high old chaos reigns again inside the moving-van, He drags you from the cozy flat where erst you dwelt in peace, And carts you to the loathsome place you've taken on a lease. You land, a nervous prostrate, with all your money spent— Who said ‘twas cheaper to remove than keep on paying rent? WHY SHE DIDN’T MOVE. a . dadoes and friezes of flats would not har- monize with him at all, she said.” Mrs. Dorcas —“ Well, good-bye, my < é ‘ Mrs. Dorcas —"\'m a believer in the dear; I must be going. Imet Mrs. Fadder : prey : a artistic myself, and I sympathize with her.” the other day. She was hunting for a flat.’ SPs % 2 Mrs. Cobwigger —* That's more than _Alrs. Cobwigger—" es. She has been es Sea * @ the landlords did. One of them laughed in having a hard time to find a suitable place. aR her face when he found out that she wanted Mrs. Dorcas —" That's because all the > ‘ Z his new flat re-painted on account of a dog. flats are designed by men architects, who ~ — Well, to make a long story short, after hunt- know nothing about woman's home wants. E ing all over the city for six weeks she found But that will be all changed when women ee ae her ideal flat. It was as if she had had it become the architects.” . x { built and decorated to order.” Mrs, Cobwigger —* \t wasn't the con- > Fi e Mrs, Dorcas — \'m so glad to hear it, struction so much that bothered Mrs, Fad- = How happy she must be!" der; it was the decorations. You knowher “ Mrs. Cobwigger —“ She would have whole soul is wrapped up in that pet dog of been, my dear, but the owner wouldn't allow hers. The creature is of the most peculiar ; a dog in the fiat.” color, and the ordinary tints one finds in the apt Lge Deacon JouNso: Could you support my daughter in de style to which she hab been accustomed, sah ?” Jockey Jackson —"* Well, me Parisian blonde, never havin’ boarded here, I ain't onto yer style ; but, jedgin’ by de looks ob tings, I rather think me beay- monde friends would cut me dead if I attempted it.” comicbooks.com