Judge, 1920-06-26 · page 13 of 37
Judge — June 26, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis for Modern Readers This is a short story illustration from *Judge* magazine titled "Embarrassment Forestalled" by J. A. Waldron. The cartoon depicts a social scene where a well-dressed manager or maitre d' (left) greets a bald gentleman (center) and an elegantly dressed woman (right), likely at a restaurant or hotel. The accompanying text reveals the satire: Mr. Baldwyn, a wealthy clubman, has been conducting a mild flirtation with an opera singer, while his wife Mrs. Baldwyn has been entertaining a titled European visitor. The "manager" meeting them with "expressions of pleasure" represents the awkward social moment being "forestalled"—averted through polite civility. The satire mocks upper-class marital discretion and the unspoken agreements wealthy couples maintained about extramarital interests, provided they maintained social appearances and didn't cause public embarrassment. The story suggests both parties tolerate each other's dalliances to preserve their social standing.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Tue Maxacer Met Hex Witt Expert — Embarrassment Forestalled By J. A. Wa.prox Illustration by Lawrence Frttows 1. HE Balkdwyns were at dinner together at :. Such an event was a litde unusual. Although they were fairly sympathetic their tastes and activities could hardly be called mutual Baldwyn dined at one of his clubs oftener than he did at his own table When he telephoned that he would be home, as sometimes he did, it was as likely as not that Mrs. Baldwyn had planned to dine out. This lack of method tended to lead to a growing separation of impulse in other things. Baldwyn was a clubman rather than domesti Mrs. Baldwyn found pleasure in matters that appeal to a very attractive woman fond of compliment and excitement that are lacking at home. It was not that Baldwyn was averse to the fair sex. A mild Hirtation appealed to him as it did to his wife. As both were clever—perhaps intuitive—their measurements of each other cut close to the truth, in spite of mutual reticence. And yet they found a reciprocal satisfaction in the limited associati supposed to. be anyway, and which their respective temperaments and habits. permitted them Baldwyn wa and culti a music amateur, with other things, It was whispered that he was very fond of a singer in grand opera whose vocal virtuosity was by no means her sole attraction. Whenever he objected to anything Mrs. Baldwyn did, she rallied him on this sentimental aberration, the only one with which she was really acquainted. Once sh« had found on the floor of Baldwyn’s room a note from this singer in which something beyond platonic friendship was expressed Mrs. Baldwyn had a weakness for persons of the male sex with titles, real or fictitious. And as there had been quite a number of this gentry in New York, some of them, it must be said, without unimpeachable credentials, and as she moved in circles in which they were to be found, she had enlarged her acquaintance proudly One of these sojourners had cut quite a dash with dam fashion. There had been considerable competition for his com pany. for he was an impressive figure. He had squired Mrs. Baldwyn, coming home unexpectedly vated musical notables. s of Baldwyn_ frequently