Judge, 1916-07-01 · page 6 of 28
Judge — July 1, 1916 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge satire mocks 1920s feminism through a domestic argument between Edward and Mrs. Digby. The joke exposes feminist hypocrisy: Mrs. Digby enthusiastically champions women sharing men's work and "life's difficulties" in principle, yet immediately demands Edward pay for her dressmaker, film lunch, ice-skating lessons, and new coat—claiming such expenses are "a husband's privilege," not shared responsibility. Edward's realization ("I knew there was a 'nigger' somewhere in that woodpile") reveals the contradiction: feminism, as she practices it, means women gain freedom while keeping traditional male financial obligations. The cartoon attacks progressive gender ideology as self-serving rhetoric masking unchanged material expectations. The opening reference to British war debt ($10 billion) frames this as national concern—the implication being that wasteful feminism compounds America's problems. The "Quiet Fourth" illustration below appears unrelated visual filler.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mr. Homespun—The paper sez the British war debt is over ten billion dollars. “Sounds like a fish,” interpolated Edward facetiously. “Yes, that is what the speaker said,” ran on Mrs. Digby. “Women reactionaries are dead fish on the sea of life, and will be swept into oblivion by the cur rent of progres: “The debate ing at one point,” she continued. “The negative speaker cried out ‘follow, follow, follow,’ and the AS Very excit- affirmative speaker answered, ‘lead, lead, lead.” ‘Follow what? L interrupted Edward impatiently, as he found himself unable to fol low the intricacies of this subject “Why, man, of course, Ed rd what?” ward. Feminism’s real purpose is to lead man to his destiny. It plans to have men and women work and share everything together until they find life’s highest meaning. Now you're getting somewher and share is a good programme. If that is the feminist idea, Lam glad you are in favor of it.” He stood up to put on his overcoat. ‘And what work is my little fe today?” he asked as he kissed Mrs. Digby “Lam going to the dressmaker’s this morning, then [am going toa film luncheon, and after that [ shall take a lesson in fancy ice skating at the rink. And, by the way, Edward, will you leave the money for my new coat? It is the only thing I have bought this season, and I’ve been wearing my old one everywhere I've been. Illumination descended on Edward's features. put this feminist plan in operation right away,” he si “V'll share the price of this coat with you. You'll feel fr less like a slave, if you pay half this coat bill yourself.” Mrs. Digby seized his arm, and shook it. “You'll pay for every bit of that coat, Edward Dig! Whatever has feminism got to do with paying for a coat? To pay for a wife's clothes is a husband's privilege, and he should not want her to share it. Feminism has nothing to do with such mundane things. Femin agreed Edward. “Work nist going to do. v0d-by. “Let's gested rand Mrs. Homespun—Why don’t they hold a bazaar ? ism is a thing of the spirit. It only means that with the larger freedom, women will share men’s work and difficulties with sympathetic minds.” “T knew there was a ‘nigger’ somewhere in that woodpile,” said Edward fiercely, as he went out with empty pocketbook, and slammed the door. Not every man drifts into bad habits under full steam: A QUIET FOURTH comicbooks.com