Judge, 1913-04-26 · page 12 of 24
Judge — April 26, 1913 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes wealthy young women who rationalize selfish behavior as selflessness. Alicia Sharpley claims she must break up with her poor boyfriend Harold to spare *him* financial hardship—yet her real motivation is transparent: she wants to marry the wealthy Mr. Harcourt instead, who can provide luxuries without requiring her sacrifice. The satire works through ironic dialogue. Alicia's reasoning is absurdly circular: she won't date Harold because his spending on her would hurt his finances and reputation, but she'll gladly marry rich Harcourt to avoid exertion. Her friend Grace sees through the pretense immediately. The "Woman's Rights Club Note" cartoon (bottom left) appears to mock women's clubs of the era, though its specific point is unclear from the visible text. The piece targets the hypocrisy of privileged women who disguise mercenary motives as moral concern, and critiques the shallow materialism of the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Unselfishness By Bathara Blair of Alicia ISS ALICIA SHARPLEY swept dramatically into the bedroom of her best friend, Miss Grace Carberry, and with tense features and tragic eyes dropped gracefully into the most comfortable chair in the room. “T have come to you for ad- vice, dear,”’ and, tossing her sables on the bed, she looked at the other with somber eyes. “Iam breaking my heart."’ “What! Again?’ Miss Car- berry’s tone was skeptical and her smile incredulous. ‘*Who is he this time?’”’ Her slim white arms fluttered out of her loose kimono sleeves and clasped her silken knees. She leaned for- ward, her charming face alight with interest. “‘I don’t see how you can say that, dear,’’ and Miss Sharp- ley looked at her with sad reproach. ‘‘It is true I have per- mitted other men to take me out, I have perhaps accepted their attentions, worn their rings and smiled on their undying affection while it lasted; but you know that Harold is the only man I have really loved. Yet I must give him up; for his own sake, I must give poor Harold up,”’ and Alicia sighed heartbreakingly. ‘‘You see, every time poor Harold takes me out, I know he is spending almost a week's salary on one even- ing’s amusement for me, and it makes me so unhappy! If I were as selfish as some of the girls, I should never. think of it.’’ “‘Why not suggest his entertaining you more simply?’’ “How can you think of such a thing, dear?’”” Alicia opened wide her sapphire eyes in pained surprise. ‘Sometimes, dear, you don’t seem to understand me at all. There are only certain places to which one can go. Besides, think how it would hurt (a Pa) WOMAN'S RIGHTS CLUB NOTE Miss Brown took the chair 1913, FOOTSTEPS poor, dear Harold’s business interests if he should be seen with me at some cheap place! Consider how it would hurt him with the other men! And what would the girls think of him? I have thought of all these things very carefully, and, having only dear Harold's interests at heart, I have decided it is best to give him up."’ “You are so unselfish, dear!’’ and Grace smiled comprehend- ingly. ‘*Who is the other man?"’ “Which would you rather do, dear?” and sighing heavily, Alicia looked at her friend with sad, tear-wet eyes. ‘‘Marry a poor man you loved or a rich man who loved you?"’ “I? Oh, I should marry the man I loved, rich or poor!"’ A CRUEL KINDNESS Hostess—Do try this chair, It's really quite comfortable for an antique laughed the other. ‘‘But, then, you see, dear, I am not so un- selfish as you. I should be thinking only of my own happiness.”” “I can’t do that,” and Alicia shook her head regretfully. “*I must think of Harold’s happiness as well as mine."’ “Then I shouldn't marry him, dear.” “You see, if I married him, the poor boy would have to work so hard to give me everything I wanted, and even then,” thoughtfully, ‘the wouldn't be able to give me all I wanted.”” “‘T understand you perfectly, dear,’’ and Grace smiled sym- pathetically. “But if I marry Mr. Harcourt, I can have everything I want without any sacrifice or exertion on his part. I should comicbooks.com