Judge, 1915-09-25 · page 7 of 28
Judge — September 25, 1915 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks absurd women's fashion trends of the era. The main cartoon depicts an exaggerated "lampshade tunic" dress with a drooping skirt and a ridiculous hat featuring a two-foot question mark—actual fashion elements that Judge deemed worthy of ridicule. The dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Comonerd establishes the satire's target: women who adopt extreme fashion trends are portrayed as foolish and deserving of mockery. Mrs. Comonerd expresses outrage at such fashions while her husband philosophizes that popular humor relies on others' misfortune and discomfort—implying women in these costumes are unwitting comedians. The secondary cartoon jokes about a bank scandal, unrelated to fashion. The piece reflects Judge's conservative stance on women's fashion innovation, treating experimental designs as both ridiculous and symptomatic of broader social disorder.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The girt—I feel so sorry for those passengers that were drowned. Of course I feel sorry for the sailors, too; but still they're used to it. THE FOUR PHASES OF FASHION’S FREAKS By TERRELL LOVE WOLLIDAY First Phase “T never do.” “QUHE ought to be shot,” indignantly exclaimed Mrs. Comonerd, “T still think that Mrs. Stiles ought to be shot for appearing on upon her return from a shopping trip. the street in the kind of a costume she was wearing this afternoon.” Comonerd squinted quizzically over his glasses. “* Hand me my “Describe it.” gun,” he said, with mock resignation. “First,” related Mrs. Comonerd, “was one of those silly skulleap hoping that I should- hats with a two-foot question mark upreared behind. And you anyone to-day.” know how they are worn—tipsily knocked over o omen make me ashamed “Yeah. They make me fe continued the ruffled “Her gown was made with the exaggerated lampshade tunic, matron, unmindful of her husband’s — that stood out a foot all round. The skirt had a mess of drapery on amusement. “They are responsible for the rest of us being laughing- stocks.” “Aren't you willing to do your part toward cheering up the world? je of te as the poet calls 'y bit of blotting paper helps.” “1 haven't noticed you laughing when the joke was on yourself.” “I’m no spoil-sport,” asserted Comonerd. “The popular, or comic supplement brand of humor is based upon pain or discomfiture. To sce a well dressed man fall headfirst into a swill barrel is considered amusing. If he is Slugged with a ball-bat and trampled by an clephant, it is excruciat- Bank prestdent—How did you enter that fifty thousand dollare that the ingly funny. But if the victim laughed, nobody clse would.” cashier absconded with ? “Well, you haven't changed my opinion a particle.” Bookkeeper—I charged it to running expenses. comicbooks.com