Judge — January 19, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration, titled "Then and Now," contrasts generational attitudes toward courtship and parental supervision. The image shows a woman in elaborate dress and hat (representing an earlier era) and a man in the background, accompanying dialogue about dating restrictions. The satire mocks the loosening of Victorian-era parental controls. The older woman recalls being forbidden from staying up late with young men, while her father questions why he would forbid it—suggesting it would be "much more interesting if you would only forbid it," implying that young people actually desire forbidden activities. The cartoon critiques both outdated strict parenting and the ironic psychology of prohibition, using the contrast between "Then" (restrictive) and "Now" (permissive) to highlight evolving social norms around courtship and authority.