Judge, 1913-05-17 · page 11 of 24
Judge — May 17, 1913 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical dialogue between a Cynic and Philosopher discusses the behavior of young women at summer resorts. The Cynic criticizes the "Summer Girl"—a stock character of the era—for her revealing clothing, flirtatiousness with multiple men, and collection of romantic "trophies" (pins, rings, buttons). He compares her behavior unfavorably to what previous generations would have tolerated. The Philosopher defends her by arguing human nature is timeless, invoking biblical and historical precedents (Salome, Ruth, Solomon's Songs). He suggests such behavior is temporary—the Summer Girl becomes modest and marriageable when returning to town, keeping her adventures secret just as men keep theirs. The cartoon satirizes both rigid moralism and the double standard regarding gender and sexuality. The "Summer Girl" represents newfound female freedom and independence that scandalized conservative observers in this pre-WWI era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE SUMMER GIRL A CYNIC and a Philosopher sat in the shade and watched the devices of happy youth at a summer resort, The abandon of a Summer Girl in a swing, with two young men in competi- tive attendance, stirred the Cynic to a censorious mood, “That girl,’? said he, ‘‘must have recently come from the seashore, where physical revelation rules. What abbreviated dress and diaphanous fabrics fail to disclose of a Summer Girl, her own humor supplements. What do you think the grand- fathers would say?”” “My friend,’’ replied the Philosopher, ‘‘women and men have always been the same. To the grandfathers all attract- ive girls in the summer were Summer Girls. It has been said there is nothing new under the sun, but the moon might have been included. The Cave Man, in his intervals between club swinging, probably had sentimental moments in which a girl was concerned, and grunted a satisfaction which your modern youth sighs or sings. Salome had danced innocently before Herod before her fatal frenzy. Some, at least, of the Songs of Solomon had a Summer Girl—or Summer Girls—for inspira- tion, If Ruth of Holy Writ had not been a Summer Girl, she would not have gleaned to such purpose.’” **But you can’t defend the Summer Girl's habits,”’ said the Cynic. ‘With Tom, Dick and Harry, and including James, Charles and Sammy, she is the same. She collects a batch of pins, rings, gilt buttons and other trophies with the ultimate cruelties that marked the assembling of human scalps by the Red Man."" “True. But that is woman nature. Back in town the Summer Girl is modesty personified, and in good time she is willing to make some young fellow permanently and soiely happy.’” “But will she tell this young man of her adventures?"’ “No. Why should she? He will not say anything about Girls I Have Met.’’ J. A. Waldron, comicbooks.com