Judge, 1915-06-19 · page 11 of 24
Judge — June 19, 1915 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a romantic/social satire about unmarried women and courtship in early 20th-century America. The headline illustration shows silhouettes of figures in an intimate moment on a balcony or veranda. The story concerns Grayce Aylmar, a socially accomplished woman recently returned from abroad who becomes the social sensation of the season. She's pursued by multiple suitors, including the previously unattainable Harry Brindley—a champion athlete and serial romantic victor. The satire targets the era's obsessions with: women's marriageability and age (the "spinster vs. old maid" opening dialogue), foreign sophistication as social currency, women's limited accomplishments (music, language skills), and the competitive marriage market where women strategically position themselves. Miss Aylmar's mysterious past of titled suitors abroad and her refusal to settle gives her power in the domestic marriage game—she "tries out" suitors rather than desperately seeking marriage, inverting the expected gender dynamics of the era's courtship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
N G By J. Aw T R Y I 6“ HAT is the difference between an old maid and a spinster, mamma?”’ asked Miss Dollie Dorsette. ‘Oh, look in the dictionary! I've forgotten. distinction. Why?"’ “*Grayce Aylmar calls herself a spinster, and she doesn’t look like an old maid."’ “*Nor act like one. Still, I think she’s old enough, if the truth were known. I wonder if I can remember when she came out.’" Mrs. Dorsette thought profoundly, but didn’t reveal anything. “*Do you notice how popular she is—how men seek her?" “*Yes. I really wonder how old she is!’" “She proves that age doesn’t matter so much if’*—— “If you are at- tractive."* “That's it. I've read that Nina d’En- clos was attractive at eighty."” “Why, my child, what have you been reading now? I wish you'd ask me to—to —guide your literary tendency !"" ‘But I was read- ing history, mother, and surely one should read history. Be- sides, what study can be more valuable for womankind than woman?"" Instead of answer- ing, Mrs. Dorsette peered at her daugh- ter through her lor- gnette and sighed, perhaps over the for- bidden wisdom of girls of these days. As for Grayce Ayl- mar, she was a social sensation. Home But there’s a M O U T after long residence abroad, she had an atmosphere that set her apart. There had been rumors that she was to marry a French count; then that she was engaged to an English lord; and later that she had captured a Russian prince, but would not consent to a morganatic marriage. Now at home, when curious women—perhaps jealous women— asked her about foreign suitors, she laughed. ‘'I'm still a spin- ster, as you see!"’ was her answer. In spite of jealousies Miss Aylmar was implored to grace social functions, where she was a magnet. She was an accomplished musician and a linguist. At one salon she so entranced with a harp, which was but an ornament when she brought it to action, that there was a sud- den revival in the harp trade. Harry Brindley was the most persist- ent among her many suitors. He had won everything he had set out to win, from a tennis championship to polo distinction. Women he didn’t care for admired him fer- vently. Mrs. Dor- sette, whose inner knowledge of social affairs was almost un- canny, had coacued her Dollie as to why, as she had heard, va- rious debutantes who had in turn set their caps for Brindley had lost out. And he really had shown a serious inclination to- ward Miss Dollie un- til Miss Aylmar ap- peared, After a lively sea- in town Miss H I WALDRON son comicbooks.com