Judge — August 25, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, August 25, 1917 This cover depicts a woman in military attire holding a rifle, with two children visible behind her. The title reads simply "A MISS." The 1917 date is crucial: America had recently entered World War I (April 1917). The satire appears to comment on women's evolving wartime roles—possibly mocking the idea of women as soldiers or military participants, a radical concept at that time. The presence of children alongside the armed woman may suggest irony about maternal duties versus military service. The "MISS" title likely plays on the double meaning: a young unmarried woman, and "to miss" (fail to hit), potentially satirizing women's supposed unsuitability for combat. The artwork is credited to artist Ware Lance McMillan.