Judge, 1920-09-25 · page 7 of 34
Judge — September 25, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: "And—The Little Gods Cheered, it was Such Sport" This satirical piece mocks early 20th-century marriage dynamics and changing gender expectations. The cartoon depicts a husband's frustration with his wife's rejection of traditional feminine adornment (ribbons, laces, powders, rouge) in favor of austere, practical clothing—a likely reference to the "New Woman" movement and suffragist ideals gaining traction at the time. The husband attempts to manipulate her by romanticizing natural simplicity (the primrose flower), but she sees through his manipulation, rejecting his "poor love" as insincere whining. The poem's title and closing suggest the "gods" (observers) find entertainment in this domestic power struggle. The satire cuts both ways: mocking both the husband's failed manipulation tactics and the wife's fierce independence. The underlying tension reflects anxieties about women rejecting prescribed femininity and asserting autonomy in marriage—radical ideas for the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drawn by Ganosex 0. Res Movit OF A MAN LIGHTING \ SAFETY MATCH And—The Little Gods Cheered, it was Such Sport HE aimed to be a nice thrifty wife In the nice old-fashioned way. or the rouges young beauty uses. No satins. No fine leathers. No gay chiffons No feathers She passed them up (the frillies) To bank her husband's *billies” (And— One night this he said) “Great Scott! Where is the sense in a man Slaving his life away for A woman who swathes in flannel To her very eyelids and screws Her hair back with a monkey wrench? Nothing to it! Better ease up on the Front door knocker for a while And work your face over! Get me?” (And— At the close of a wild month, in desperation He calls attention to a modest little flower On the breakfast table) “You see, my dear, That Primrose here, Demands not the graces Of ribbons and laces By Retit Irvixe Connor And satins and leathers And chiffons and feathers And powders and rouge That you, my dear, use, With intent and purpose. Yes, intent and purpose. To attract and bewilder, Befuddle, bedevil, The poor wits of man! Deny—if you can!” (And She, with mountains of “frillies”” To her credit plus an excellent memory) “Will you listen to the creature! This silly, poor man creature! Think you, if it could be And I were ‘Primrose,’ he Would go stalking proudly at my side Alert and lik I'll not abide Such high-and-mightiness! Away With this poor love! It whines! I say I'll have no more of it!” (And— He, torn between pusy an’ the checkbook) “1 love you, you fool woman, And mighty well you know it.” (And She, as her puppet dances) “Now. will you hear the creature howl! Lord, grant him sense enovgh to show it!”