Judge, 1916-12-30 · page 15 of 29
Judge — December 30, 1916 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks marital dynamics and women's talkativeness. The cartoon shows a man with a monkey perched behind him—the "descent of man" title references Darwin's evolution theory, sarcastically suggesting the husband is devolving into an ape. The joke: Mrs. Clatterby self-righteously proposes that spouses be "perfectly frank" about annoying habits. When James immediately tells her she talks too much, she launches into a lengthy, defensive monologue—proving his point spectacularly. The irony is that her attempt to improve through honesty immediately backfires as she demonstrates the very flaw she claims to address. The satire targets both nagging wives and self-deluding domesticity, portraying a husband reduced to animal frustration by endless female chatter.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“THE DESCENT OF MAN" MRS. CLATTERBY MAKES RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR 6677 DON’T care what any one says, I I do think that it is a good thing for one to make good resolutions at the end of the year, I just do,” said Mrs. Clatterby with decision as she handed Clatterby his second cup of cof- fee. “I firmly believe that all of us could overcome many of our little faults that annoy others if we only firmly resolved that we would do so, and if we had the moral—moral—what is the word I want to use? Oh, yes, fibre, that is it, the moral fibre; and I hope that I have enough of it to keep a good resolution once I make it. I have been thinking By JL, WARROUR that it would really and truly be a good thing if, at the end of the year, hus- bands and wives were perfectly frank with each other and told each other of annoying little habits that w rritating to each other. And now, James, if I have any little habit that annoys you I honestly wish that you would be entirely frank and tell me what that habit is that I may begin the new year by really get- ting rid of it. If you will only tell me . “You talk too much.” “What! J talk too much? Well, James Clatterby, I don’t think that I talk any more than other wives talk, and I would just like to know what I say that L haven't a perfect right to say. When a woman’s husband is gone all day and he comes home at night isn’t it perfectly natural, pet she should wish to con- verse with him? Would you have me greet you in perfect silence and —what is that? You couldn't conceive of ~ such a thing being pos- sible? Now, James, what do you mean by fectly right and proper, that comicbooks.com