Judge, 1919-10-25 · page 9 of 36
Judge — October 25, 1919 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Woman's Side of It" - Judge Magazine This illustration satirizes early 20th-century debates about women's professional ambitions versus marriage expectations. Blanche Wing, an ambitious law student, initially rejects marriage to pursue a legal career—rejecting a suitor's offer of an office partnership. However, she falls for Luke Densmore, a charming law lecturer and aspiring District Attorney candidate. The satire lies in the ironic outcome: despite her passionate arguments for women's intellectual equality and independence, Blanche ultimately abandons her career ambitions for matrimony. The story suggests that even career-minded women succumb to romantic persuasion and domesticity. The caption "I Wonder, Dear, if You Would Like Me to Have an Office with You?" shows Densmore diplomatically offering the office partnership—suggesting he'll gradually persuade her away from professional ambitions through charm rather than argument. The satire critiques both women's inconsistency and men's manipulative tactics.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Illustration by LAWRence Fettows “I Wonper, Dear, te You Woutp Like Me to Have an Orrice witn You?” The Woman’s Side of It By] remarked one of her friends to another. “Blanche She can find more than one man with money anxious to give her ease and luxury.” [' IS illogical for Blanche Wing to study is too handsome a girl. ve talked with Blanche about it,” replied the other. “She says man interests her only inciden- tally. She wants a career. Thinks she can do a lot of good in the law. And you know she is ardent in the cause of woman. She believes there is no mental dif- ferentiation of sex. Besides, there is another view- point. A handsome woman lawyer ought to win the cases in which she is employed.” Blanche was a student in a well-known law school, and near graduation. Luke Densmore came to the school as a lecturer. He was a young man of fine pres- ence and had an exceptional knowledge of criminal law. “Well, A. Watpron He had been picked by his party to run for the District Attorneyship. Densmore fell in love with Blanche, and she recipro- cated, All at once she revised her opinion of men and matrimony. But she thought she could make a home for the man of her choice and still do good in her pro- fession. Densmore rallied her on this point, but when he found her mind fixed he became diplomatic. He had such an opinion of his own plausibility that he let the matter go for the time. Gradually he would bring her to his way of thinking. The present obsession was matrimony—and a honeymoon. Tt was agri ay Blanche secured her legal diploma they should be married. And so it happened. They would make a happy journey and be back in time for the political campaign into which Densmore was to enter. And it was planned that a cozy home should be