Judge, 1916-05-13 · page 17 of 28
Judge — May 13, 1916 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the gap between a moralistic judge's advice and his own circumstances. The judge pontificates to a young working woman about matrimony being "the aim and end" of youth and warns against delay, lecturing her on settling down and selecting "the right man." The satire's punch comes in the top cartoon: the same judge is shown frantically hiding from incoming visitors—revealed to be the arrival of Mrs. Vivian and her nine unmarried daughters. The caption reads "Father of nine unmarried daughters—Great Scott, where can I hide?" The joke targets hypocrisy: the judge preaches marriage as life's solution while being a father of nine unmarried daughters himself—suggesting his own matrimonial advice has catastrophically failed. His sermonizing about women's duty to marry rings hollow given his evident inability to marry off his own children. The bottom illustration about "Sister" appears unrelated domestic humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
a restricted sense. But like most young persons they are instinct with their own thoughts and purposes They cannot assimilate my atmos- phere. They are here, no doubt, mainly as you are here—for pleasure.” “Oh, no! I’m not what I may m I don’t understand.” I'm not a gay follower of fashion and sport—or an idler.” “Ah! I judged you were not frivolous, my young friend.” “T have no time for frivolity. 1 work when in the cit “Yes? Well, work is healthful—wholesome. It really is necessary to preserve balance in men. But you will not always work. And your vocation must be profitable or you could fford a holiday here.” “I am here through the kindness of a rich woman friend—a widow—who enjoys as much of my company as I can give her in town, and who, like you, islonely. She felt I nceded a rest.” “But while honest work is grateful, you cannot expect to spend your youth in that way. Youth is nature's richest gift, and matrimony should be the aim and end of all. Don’t you ever think of matrimony?” “Who does not? Yet Ihave plenty of time. {am in no hurry to marry. I haven't even a beau!” She laughed ingenuously. “That must be your own fault. You should think of settling in life. Select the right man, and marry. Don’t delay until loneliness is inevitable The judg. with an e: not smiled at her as she rose suddenly ation of delight. A new guest, Father of nine unmarried daughters—Great Scott, where can I hide? They're coming this way! with servants and impediment came toward her with arms outstretched. The newcomer was a woman of about fifty, well preserved and gracefully poised, with a face that bespoke determin- ation, though she now was smiling. She embraced Miss Sweet, who turned to introduce her friend: “Mrs. Vivian, Judge Mossbank. Judge Mossbank, Mrs. Vivian —the dear friend of whom I have spoken.” After a formal greeting, Mrs. Vivian and her protege hurried away. When they reached Mrs. Vivian’s apartment that wise woman asked: So that is the Judge you wrote about! Has he been making love to you?” Sister—Careless, if it'd been much deeper ye'd have got your face washed an’ it'd serve ye right, too! comicbooks.com