Judge, 1913-02-01 · page 8 of 24
Judge — February 1, 1913 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the early automobile era (circa 1910s) and its social impacts. The header "Getting Back to Nature" tracks women's fashion becoming progressively less restrictive as decades pass—a dig at how automobiles are supposedly "liberating" women by requiring less clothing, though the satire's target is unclear. The main humor concerns automobile culture itself: reckless driving ("joy-rides"), dangerous drivers ("road hogs"), and cars as romantic venues. "Cupid, the Chauffeur" and "The Elopement" depict courtship enabled by automobiles, while "Feels the Same" compares car-riding to sleigh-riding as romantic activities—both allow couples to sit close together. "Rubbing It In" mocks a newly licensed driver by suggesting his license merely certifies he's *survived* rather than proven competence. The illustrated joke depicts the nervous passenger's terrified reaction to a reckless driver. Overall, the page reflects contemporary anxieties: automobiles as dangerous, drivers as incompetent, and cars as agents of social change—particularly regarding courtship and women's independence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
In 1860 women's clothes consisted of five layers. Punctures. TH PROOF of the joy-ride is in reaching home safely. Outspeeding the cop is the price of liberty. MOTHERLY PRIDE. “ My, my, Danny! The road hog and his car are soon laid up for repairs. A little gas leak is a dangerous thing. Too many joy-rides spoil the car. Never put off till to-morrow the spin you can have to-day. It’s a wise owner who knows his own car after it has been stolen. A chauffeur is known by the company he takes joy-riding. Two can motor as cheaply as one. It’s a long lane that has no roadhouse. A pretty girl in the car is worth two in the street. The ways of the road map are past finding out. The reformed speeder makes the saf- est chauffeur. he Je O'Connell. In 1870 four lay- ers were consid- ered sufficient. GETTING BACk If your father was only alive to see ye now."" Peane- In 1880 they bad been reduced to three layers. TO Rubbing It In. A rather nervous man accepted the in- vitation of a friend to take a trip in the motor car he had recently purchased. It turned out to be one of the most nerve-racking ex- periences he had ever gone through, and after narrowly escaping several collisions he vowed to himself never to enter a car again. “I just got my automobile license to-day,"” said the owner, proudly showing the paper. “T thought I'd have trouble about it, but it’s only a mat- terof form."” “So I should judge,"’ answered his friend, with a grim smile. “I see it certifies you are competent to run one."” Citing an Instance. Ted—‘‘So consider an auto rather dangerous? you Ned —‘'I should say so! A fellow with a high-speed car wonmy best girl away from me Opportunit cranks everybody's automobile once, In 1900 two layers were correct, NATURE In 1912 the "In 1913 last layer was > reached. f Cupid, the Chauffeur. DID not hear the broken gea When riding out with Molly I simply heard the single word Which sounded, then, so jolly. I did not feel the wabbling wheel. (I fear 'twas unattended.) Her little hand was in mine. Grand! I think our lips were blended. I gave no thought to what I ought To do in case of trouble; Admit my mind was all inclined On Cupid's brightest bubble. No look bestowed upon the road Nor on the trees which fenced it, Till she said, ‘‘Yes.’’ Then, I confess, We both were ‘‘up against it."” Jaw G. Feels the Same. Madge—‘‘Do you really like motoring as well as sleigh riding?”’ Marjorie—‘‘{ don't see much differ- ence since Charlie has learned to run the car with one hand.”” Clare, THE ELOPEMENT. Seventy miles an hour, darling; are you brave?" “Yes, dear, I'm fall of grit.” comicbooks.com