Judge, 1915-07-17 · page 13 of 28
Judge — July 17, 1915 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical story mocks outdated Victorian-era attitudes toward marriage. Mrs. Wise pressures her young daughter Abigail to accept Mr. Willing's proposal despite significant age gaps and her lack of romantic interest. The mother represents stuffy parental authority, insisting that a girl should accept an older, wealthy "honorable" man regardless of personal preference—particularly if he persists despite rejection. The satire highlights the absurdity: when Abigail refuses an unwanted kiss and does the math (she's 20, he's 45, making him 70 at her 45), the mother dismisses this rational objection as irrelevant. The cartoon's title "Young Love's Initiative" is ironic—it depicts not young love's agency but rather young women's lack of it, controlled by mothers prioritizing financial security over daughters' wishes or consent. The satire criticizes the era's transactional approach to marriage.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ReEe YOUNG LOVE’S By J. aA, IN WALDRON 46] ISTEN to me, Abigail,’ said Mrs. Wise to her daughter. ‘‘Remember, please, that I’m older than you. Wisdom comes only with age.’" “Yes, mamma."’ “Why are you so cold to Mr. Willing— so distant?"’ “Am 1?" “He says so. a suitor.” “Yes, He has proposed."" “‘What answer did you make?"’ “I declined. But he said he wouldn’t take that as final.’’ “Of course not! consent, child. He has my indorsement as He'll persist—with my Why did you refuse to go motoring with him? He is dissatisfied over your manner, which I fear isn’t nice. Has he done anything to offend?"’ ‘*He wanted to kiss me."’ “And didn't? You refused? Child, when a man pays court to a woman—to a girl—and is serious about it—when his in- tentions are honorable—there’s no harm in a kiss.’’ ‘*But, mamma, isn’t a kiss something that should be mutual?’’ **What do you mean?"’ “Should a girl let a man ki she has no wish to kiss the man “Certainly, when the man is a man of character and honorable purpose. You her when ITIATIVE mustn’t forget that such a match as you can make isn’t the fortune of every girl. If your dear father were with us, he'd ad- vise you as I'm advising you,"" “Is a girl to marry a man much older than she is because he’s honorable and has money?"’ “Perhaps not solely, dear. But Mr. Willing isn’t so old. Only forty-five.'* “And I'm twenty. When I'm forty-five —which you say isn’t so old—and he is still alive, if I should marry him, he will be seventy. Surely that’s old enough!" “Abigail! What nonsense! What has metic to do with it?’’ ‘*But figures tell the truth, mamma. You