Judge — September 16, 1916 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration satirizes social class and propriety in what appears to be the Edwardian era (early 1900s, based on the clothing and carriage style). The caption "THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE DARED TO CALL THEM" suggests the joke concerns what these fashionably dressed women can be called versus what they actually are. The cartoon likely mocks wealthy women's social pretensions—the elaborate gowns, carriages, and attendants suggest they present themselves as respectable society ladies. However, the satire implies there's a gap between their public image and private reality or reputation. The small dog and their ostentatious display emphasize the vanity being lampooned. Without additional context, the specific target remains unclear, but it appears to critique female social climbing or moral hypocrisy among the affluent classes.