Judge, 1912-01-27 · page 17 of 24
Judge — January 27, 1912 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1910s satirical magazine page mocks women's suffrage through multiple lenses. The central cartoon depicts "Government" as a woman literally carrying the burden of the vote—visual satire suggesting women aren't equipped to handle political responsibility. The accompanying articles present supposed "facts" (Pacific coast suffrage regions prove women are naturally suited for voting) and poetry titled "That Suffragette," which ridicules pro-suffrage women as shrill, domineering, and unmarriageable. The poem's humor relies on stereotypes: a suffragist woman is "not dependable," threatens domestic harmony, and represents the nightmare scenario of a wife who disagrees politically with her husband. E. Jean Nelson Penfield, pictured as chairman of New York's Woman Suffrage Party, is presented factually but in a context designed to portray suffragists as the eccentric subjects of satire. The "My Dream Maiden" narrative frames a woman's political activism as an unattractive departure from feminine ideals, ultimately endorsing the man's acceptance of her activism only through romantic love—not principle.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
J HO MODS Interesting Fact. EMARKABLE, is it not, that the areas occupied by English- speaking people in which suffrage has been granted to women are on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This is the fact regarding the woman-suffrage States of our Union, and also of New Zealand and Australia. The cause cannot be traced to the air of the Pacific Ocean, for that air is breathed by women of the Orient, and in that part of the world the cause of equal suffrage, or of any suffrage, in fact, has not made noticeable prog- ress. Possibly it is because the newest of English-speaking com- *monwealths have location on and near the Pacific and are not bur- dened by respect for tradition nor social customs. My Dream Maiden. I loved a maiden passing fair, with soulful eyes and golden hair. She made her way into my heart, and in each dream she played a part. But, as the years rolled on apace, the time arrived when I must face the stern, cold world. I hit the grit and soon amassed a goodly bit of real, hard cash. And then my mind went to that girl I'd left behind. I hied me back to dear Bing- ville and found heron the old farm still. But, mercy goodness! what a change! Her manner was extremely strange. She had no time for idle chat, no time to talk on this and that; she harped away upon one note, and this was it: ‘‘Let women vote!" She led the woman-suf- frage crowd and oft held forth in ac- cents loud. But was she mannish? Not a bit! Her princess was a perfect fit, most dainty shoes encased her feet, and she was what you'd call petite. And did this maiden get my goat because she thought her sex should vote? And did I murmur and repine or shed a bucketful of brine because her chiefest of delights was to declaim on women's rights? Not so! I pressed her to my breast and in her ear my love confessed. Her rosy lips I fondly kissed, and said, ‘‘Be mine, sweet suffragist!’’ And then in manner coy and shy she dimpled, blushed, and murmured, # E. Jean Nelson Penfield. The Woman Suffrage Party is the largest suffrage organization in the city of New York, numbering, as it does, upward of forty thousand members. It alone is organized by assembly districts. Its formation on the lines of the exist- ing political parties enables it to do &, JEAN NELSON PENFIELD, Chairman of the Woman Suffrage Party of the City of New York. IA OMAN the double duty of working for ‘Votes for Women’ and educat- ing its members to deal intelli- gently with the vote when it is given them. Mrs. Penfield, its chairman, is an_ indefatigable worker and a convincing speaker. That Suffragette. It is not recommendable To wed a suffragette. Her tongue is not dependable; She’s quite too self-defendable. It is not recommendable, And yet—and yet—— A woman should be teachable — The tender, clinging vine; With gentle eyes beseechable, Red lips not too unreachable. A woman should be teachable, But mine—-but mine— Marriage, you know—be sensi- ble— Joins two in one, Woman is reprehensible, To think her sphere extensible— A notion indefensible, For man’s the one. Of course it’s undeniable That woman is divine, To sweet delusions liable, With heart extremely friable, Timid and meek and pliable; But mine—but mine—— If I should go Republican And she go Democrat, Our home would be a bubbly can Of fizz and fret that doubly can Confuse a poor Republican On where he’s at. Oh, it is man-ifestible To marry a suffragette Would mean a din detestable At meals quite indigestible. All that is man-ifestible; And yet—and yet—— Who wants his wife a notable, To call out claps By lofty logic quotable? Were but her coffee potable, Her husband might be notable, Perhaps—perhaps. Besides, she’s not attainable, My little suffragette! Although it’s not explainable, My love is unrestrainable; But she is not attainable, Not yet—not yet. My darling is adorable, My heart's one shrine! Her doctrine is deplorable, By doctrines I am borable; Yet, oh! she is adorable— And won't be mine! comicbooks.com