Judge, 1919-12-27 · page 11 of 37
Judge — December 27, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This is a short story illustration from *Judge* magazine, not primarily political satire. The narrative concerns pre-wedding tensions between upper-class newlyweds-to-be. The story's conflict: Madge Dalman, the bride, asks her fiancé Harold Grey to skip his bachelor dinner, arguing that if wives should prioritize pleasing husbands, shouldn't the expectation be mutual? Harold refuses, claiming it's impossible to omit. The illustration shows a man (presumably Dalman, the bride's father, based on the caption) on the telephone, apparently calling to inform someone that a communicant has declined to provide his name—likely a humorous aside about the story's main social drama. The satire targets gender double standards in Edwardian etiquette: wives are expected to subordinate their preferences, yet husbands refuse reciprocal compromise. The story gently mocks both rigid social conventions and masculine resistance to equality.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Wert,” Sarp Datman Arter tHe CoMMUNICANT av Decuixen to Give His Name, “Wuat is rr?” A Prenuptial Incident By J. A. Watprox Illustration by Lawrence Fettows T was two days before the wedding. Dalman Place, a showy suburban mansion named for its owner, was a scene of activity in preparation. The Dalmans were fond of social circumstance, and observers of every convention that was modish There had been a partial rehearsal of the wedding that morning, excluding, of course, the ritualistic ele- ment of it. A bishop was to intone the service on the great day, and a minor clergyman was at the rehearsal suggest fine points of conduct such as entrances, deportment and exits. Madge Dalman, an only child, was to be the bride. Harold Grey, only son of a family equivalently opulent, was to be the groom Madge and her mother were in the girl's spacious and elegant chamber in natural conference after the excitements of the mornin The bridesmaids, who u were guests at Dalman Place for the occasion, were enjoying themselves together on the premises. The prospective bridegroom and his groo and ushers had gone to town. He was to give a clor dinner that evening at a great hotel. Madge and her mother had discussed the rehearsal, her trousseau, and other subjects. The girl suddenly became serious “T wonder, mamma, why young men about to marry give bachelor dinners she asked. “Why, child, it is something all young men in good circumstances do. “You've told me that a young woman about to be married should make up her mind to please her husband in every way. Shouldn’t that be mutual? “Certainly “T asked Harold to omit the bachelor dinner. laughed and said it was impossible.” nsmen h- He comichoo!