Judge, 1919-04-12 · page 11 of 36
Judge — April 12, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Emotional Reactions" — A Domestic Satire This story illustration depicts a husband's moment of marital conscience. Vickery, a philandering man who has neglected his wife, suddenly feels remorseful while waiting for his car. He resolves to visit her apartment to reconcile. However, the punchline arrives through visual irony: he discovers a military officer's cap, gloves, swagger stick, and overcoat in her room—suggesting his wife is entertaining a soldier in her boudoir. The illustration captures the moment he realizes this, standing shocked in the doorway. The satire targets the era's sexual double standards: Vickery's affairs were presumed acceptable "masculine privilege," yet his wife's implied infidelity is presented as a comeuppance. The story uses his belated guilt and discovery as ironic justice, suggesting that "wild habits" eventually catch up with neglectful husbands.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wT Emotional ICKERY had a late breakfast brought to him. His man had made him sartorially fit for mid- day. While waiting for his car he happened to think he had not seen Mrs. Vickery in sev- eral days, although there probably had been times when they had both been at home. He was usually the truant. Mrs. Vickery was a woman of discrimination after the fact. She had married Vickery two years before on a misapprehension. She was young. He had been a sower of wild oats. From her social education she had gathered that a married rake makes a good husband, and had taken a chance. Vickery really thought more of his wife than of any other woman, but presumed upon alleged masculine privilege. It takes time to tame wild habits. Mrs. “From tHe Bouporr, Apjorninc, Came Voices” Reactions By J. A. Watpron Illustration by Lawrence FeLtows Vickery had let him go his way, but had gradually with- drawn from association. There had been no “scenes,” and this fact increased his respect for Mrs. Vickery. And her growing remoteness spurred his affection for her. Thus, while waiting for his car, Vickery had a touch of conscience. “I’ve been a fool,” he thought. “I wonder if it’s too late to make good?” He would see her. Vickery made his way to her apartment. On the way he met a maid who looked after him curiously and smiled. The door of Mrs. Vickery’s outer room was ajar. He entered without signal. On a table he saw the cap of an officer with gloves and a swagger stick, and carelessly disposed on a chair was a military overcoat. From the boudoir, adjoining, comicbooks.com