Judge, 1903-01-10 · page 5 of 16
Judge — January 10, 1903 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1902 Judge magazine illustration from the "Girls of Our Town" series presents an idealized portrait of a Philadelphia woman. The accompanying verse jokes about the city's nickname—"City of Brotherly Love"—by suggesting that local women are treated merely as sisters by suitors rather than romantic interests. The satire implies Philadelphia men are either unromantic or overly fraternal in their approach to courtship, undermining the city's reputation for affection. The elegant drawing contrasts with the humorous premise: despite the woman's attractive appearance and sophisticated presentation, she apparently inspires only platonic regard. The joke plays on regional stereotypes common in early-1900s American satirical magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Philadelphia (( (li dream of a girl, Like the damsel above, Should find joy in a town Of mere brotherly love Is explained by the dream Of the poet that she To each Swell of the place But a sister would be. COPYRIGHT 1902, ey sUDGE COMPANY OF NEW YORK ” NO 2,.—"THE GIRLS OF OUR TOWN.”