Judge, 1902-07-19 · page 5 of 16
Judge — July 19, 1902 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from Judge magazine's "Gallery of Fair Women" series features a portrait labeled "James Montgomery Flagg 1902" alongside satirical poetry mocking wealthy women and mercenary romance. The satire targets the Gilded Age phenomenon of fortune-hunting suitors pursuing rich heiresses. The poem's speaker cynically claims to love "Edith" for her wealth rather than her person, requesting she surrender her "ducats" while pretending romantic devotion. Phrases like "gold of love" and "bright gold of love shall lead / The happy tandem team" equate matrimonial prospects with financial gain. The "Gallery of Fair Women" framing suggests this is part of a series critiquing society women. The satire exposes the transactional nature of elite marriages during the Gilded Age, when wealthy heiresses—particularly those with industrial fortunes—became targets for status-seeking men. Judge's comedy here serves as social commentary on class, marriage, and greed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
~— Copymianr, 1902; ey suDce COMPANY OF NEW TORK TO A MULTI-MILLIONAIRESS. Though love of gold and gold of love ‘That ne'er can be a curse, Fate ever should estrange, And ne'er, oh, ne'er, but fleeting dross Give me the latter all in all ‘To tarry in a purse. And ask no bit of change I crave this gold, though it has wings— May it fly unto me And ne'er away, but for the years Remain my joy to be. Edith, | love you for the gold Then, If you'll yield the ducats, too, ‘Twill ruffle not love's dream While your bright gold of love shall lead ‘The happy tandem team. - NO. 8.— JUDGE'S GALLERY OF FAIR WOMEN. comicbooks.com