Judge — January 13, 1917 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes high-society social dancing etiquette circa early 20th century. Two couples converse at what appears to be a formal ball or "lallapaloosa" (slang for an impressive event). A man compliments a woman's appearance and suggests dancing with her ("sign her up for a couple of trots"). Her female companion (likely a friend or chaperone) warns her against it, claiming that accepting a dance creates a sense of obligation or "mortgage" on her—the man will expect further attention and dance poorly ("galumphs like a jabberwocky," meaning he dances clumsily and awkwardly). The satire mocks the rigid social conventions governing dance-card protocol and the possessive attitudes men displayed toward women they danced with. The woman's resistance exposes how these "courtesies" actually constrained women's autonomy at social events.