Judge, 1916-07-01 · page 5 of 28
Judge — July 1, 1916 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes early 20th-century feminist debates through two pieces: **"A Cult of the Spirit"** depicts a Forum Club discussion where Mrs. Digby argues women are "slaves to men" and should have complete freedom. Her husband Edward, reading the newspaper at breakfast, responds that women already possess freedom and control—their "inherited strain" gives them supremacy over men through manipulation. The satire mocks both feminists and anti-feminists: it suggests feminists exaggerate women's oppression while implying women already wield power through influence. **"A New Lay"** (bottom right) shows a hen refusing to lay eggs, planning to "lay a carpet" instead—a crude visual pun equating women's liberation with domestic rebellion. The overall message critiques feminist activism as hypocritical and socially disruptive.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aunt Caroline, whose physician has prescribed mild exercise and recreation, decides to take up golf, but sees no reason why it may not be played in the garb of a lady. WwW" DEBATED feminism at the A CULT OF THE SPIRIT slipped under the dining-table where Forum Club yesterday Edward. ial Seaen he could not reach it. I did wish you were there; it would Ap BELEN AL SPETORG “No one cared what she said,” said SY have improved your mind,” began Mrs. Mrs. Digby contemptuous! “She was only there for the Aya Digby pleasantly at the breakfast table. affirmative speaker to contradict. She was against feminism, bs “Feminism! What is it?” asked Edward and did not want women to be free. She talked about the I absently, as he continued to read to the last home, and staying in it, which only annoys people, for no one inch of his newspaper column. wants to stay home nowada She was a reactionary.” “O—no one has been able to include “Reaction,” quoted Mrs. Digby from the debate, “is the a all that it means in one definition, It isa crusted lava on an extinct volcano. It is a monster whose .° part of the larger freedom that women _ tentacles grip a lifeless past.” “Z want,” answered the lady instructively. “What do women want to be freer for? Aren't they free enough?” inquired her husband when he stopped reading the paper to eat his breakfast. y. Edward!” ejaculated Mrs. I nityingly, “women are not free. Women are slaves; they are slaves to men. The speaker for feminism in the debate, said that women were the tble mates of men, and spent their lives in servile de- pendency, cringingly obeying the behests of men, and abjectly pandering to their caprices. In return for this, men fling golden gifts to women which th fawningly accept. But, back in prehistoric eras, women were free, and were in control of Dae everything, and this inherited strain is what gives us our desire = for supremacy A NEW LAY “Tf this was a debate, what did the negative speaker say?” Duckling Stop! It's dangerous to eat tacks ! questioned Edward, growing more interested as his paper Mrs. Hen—But I'm going to lay a carpet. Ccomicbooks.com