Judge, 1912-09-07 · page 14 of 24
Judge — September 7, 1912 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This illustration satirizes American cabarets by comparing them to their Parisian counterparts. The poem, credited to J.A.W., uses light mockery to describe cabaret culture: a venue featuring dancing women, music, drinking, and smoking. The final line—"Satan sits with cloven feet"—signals moral disapproval, suggesting cabarets represent sinful indulgence. The artwork depicts an elaborately dressed dancer performing for an audience in an ornate theatrical setting. This likely reflects early 20th-century American anxiety about cabaret culture, which was viewed as morally questionable, particularly regarding alcohol (relevant during Prohibition era discussions) and female performers. The satire gently criticizes American adoption of supposedly decadent French entertainment customs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE CABARET. In Paris they are always gay In what they call the cabahray. Well, here they ‘re just the same, and yet Some call the place a cabaret— Where fetching dames and damsels dance ; Where songs and merriment entrance; Where drinks and cigarettes compete, And Satan sits with cloven feet. =J. A.W. comicbooks.com