Judge — March 14, 1914 — page 24: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is **entirely advertisement**, not satire or political content. It promotes NAIAD brand undergarments—dress shields (underarm protectors) and a waterproofed skirt protector—manufactured by C.E. Conover Co. in New York. The quote "The Crowning Attribute of Lovely Woman is Cleanliness" frames these hygiene products as essential to feminine virtue. The image shows a woman in profile examining herself in a mirror, visually supporting the message that cleanliness (via these products) defines female attractiveness and respectability. For modern readers: This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about perspiration and menstruation as sources of social shame. The advertisement equates purchasing these protective garments with being a refined, desirable woman. Products like dress shields addressed real concerns about visible sweat stains on tight-fitting period clothing, but the marketing exploits female insecurity about bodily functions to drive sales. This represents a historical moment when commercialism began weaponizing shame around women's bodies.