Judge, 1915-08-28 · page 12 of 28
Judge — August 28, 1915 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main cartoon parodies Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade," reimagined as women's fashion progressing toward shorter skirts. The illustration shows a seesaw with two women and a child, representing the social tension over hemlines—a genuine controversy of the early 20th century when women's skirts were gradually rising, shocking conservative society. The satire mocks male obsession with this trend ("Is there a man dismayed? No!") while poking fun at women's legs, described variously as "broomsticks, piano legs," and "fairy shapes." The poem's final stanzas democratize the fashion across class lines ("Grande dame and demoiselle, / Shop girl and Bowery belle"), suggesting this wasn't just an upper-class phenomenon. The surrounding humor pieces continue Judge's satirical tone on gender relations, marriage, and social propriety—typical content for this era's magazine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE BALANCE OF POWER The Skirted Animal ALF an inch, half an inch, Half an inch shorter! Whether the skirts are for Mother or daughter! Briefer the dresses grow, Fuller the ripples flow, While whisking glimpses show More than they oughter! Forward the dress parade! Is there a man dismayed? No! From the sight displayed None could be sundered! Theirs not to make remark; Clergyman, clubman, clerk— Gaping from noon till dark At the Four Hundred. Short skirts to right of them! Shorter to left of them! Shortest in front of them, Flaunted and flirted! In hose of stripe and plaid, Hued most exceeding glad, Sporting in spats run mad, Come the short-skirted! Flashed all their ankles there; Flashed as they turned in air! What will not women dare? (Though the exhibits show Some of them blundered!) All sorts and types of pegs— Broomsticks, piano legs; Here and.there fairy shapes, Just built to walk on eggs, Come by the hundred! When can their glory fade? Oh, the wild show they made! All the world wondered. Grande dame and demoiselle, Shop girl and Bowery belle— Four Hundred? H'm—oh, well, Any old hundred !—Carolyn Weils. Getting Experience A man looks back on the night he pro- posed and the night he attended his first big banquet—and wonders how he could have acted that way. Explaining the Delay She (reading newspaper) — ‘*‘ Divorced ten-thirteen a. m., weds again five p. m."’ What do you think of that? He—It would take that long to get the license. Detained on Pressing Business “Isn't Mrs. Weepybride happy with her husband?"’ “She hasn’t much opportunity to find out."" A girl may prefer to read novels or eat fudge, but when mother wants her to help tidy up the house, watch her dust! Private Tommy—Wot's the trouble, 'Arry? Retort Discourteous Mrs. Tiffany—I want to get me some spats. Mr. Tiffany—Get ‘em, then; but it's carrying coals to Newcastle! The Dulling of Jack The idle scions of the rich This saying prove with effort small: 'Tis all play and no labor which Make Jack the dullest boy of all. Lazytown Local Note Cricket Hicks is hunting around for a good place to hide his celluloid collar dur ing flytime. Private'Arry—I've 'ad bad news. Bob Short 'as went an’ got took prisoner with my pipe in ‘is pockt.