Judge — April 10, 1920 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cartoon **The Cartoon:** This drawing by F. Foister Lincoln depicts an elegant social gathering, likely at a wealthy home (note the ornate architecture with palm plants and columns). **The Joke:** Mrs. Blackwood addresses Mrs. Bowdler with concern about "motoring" (early automobile driving). Mrs. Bowdler responds that they've "let me see—Peter, how many cars have we now?"—suggesting she's lost count of their automobile collection. **The Satire:** The humor targets wealthy society women's casual extravagance during the early automobile era. The joke mocks both their obsession with motor cars as status symbols and their obliviousness to their own excessive consumption—they can't even keep track of how many vehicles they own. It's satire of the nouveau riche and their conspicuous display of wealth.