Judge, 1912-03-09 · page 14 of 24
Judge — March 9, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contrasts old-fashioned courtship with contemporary (early 1900s) dance crazes. The top panel mocks the evolution from genteel hand-kissing to modern mouth-kissing, suggesting modern couples are more physically forward. The bottom panel depicts the "turkey trot" and "bunny hug"—popular ragtime dances of the 1910s-1920s known for close physical contact and energetic movements that scandalized conservative society. The satire targets social change: what previous generations viewed as shocking (full kissing, uninhibited dancing) has become normalized. The reference to the "tarantelle" (a traditional Italian dance) emphasizes how dramatically dance culture has shifted toward more provocative styles. Judge's humor plays on generational hand-wringing over youth culture's perceived moral decline—a recurring satirical theme of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The courting swain in days of old Full many changes have been wrought. Was satisfied the hand to kiss We scorn mere paltry finger tips, Of her to whom his love he told; Preferring kisses of the sort But ‘twixt that distant day and this That need, forsooth, two pairs of lips. WARREW SpanER® The populace who used to dwell In days when reigned the tarantelle, To-day would witness with a shrug Our “turkey trot” and “bunny hug.” comicbooks.com