Judge, 1921-01-01 · page 9 of 32
Judge — January 1, 1921 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Way They Proposed" - Satire on Romantic Ideals vs. Reality This two-part piece satirizes the gap between young women's romantic fantasies and mundane reality. **"The Way They Proposed"** (by Katherine Neculy): Betty becomes obsessed with elaborate, poetic marriage proposals after hearing romanticized versions from relatives—her grandmother's chivalrous courtship, her aunt's letter with exquisite stationery and rose. She studies movie proposals, practices poses, and dreams of "Prince Charming." When actual marriage comes, it's brutally anticlimactic: her childhood friend Bobbie simply mentions earning thirty-five dollars weekly and asks, "Whadda y'say about us gettin' married?" She accepts immediately. The satire targets how popular culture (films, literature, motion pictures) inflates young women's expectations with impossible romance, while real life offers pragmatic, unglamorous proposals based on financial stability rather than passion. The accompanying cartoon (by Warren) reinforces this: a man says he'll give his girlfriend "five minutes" to decide his proposal, or "you will have to do your own proposing"—mocking both male ultimatums and shifting gender dynamics.
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LS The Way They Proposed By Katuesine Necury ETTY reached the Romantic Age when she was sixteen, which was t arly as it could be done, and of course there are those not go through it until they are at least asked Grandma Qrst how Grandpa pro: posed. Grandma said he told her she was beauti t her feet, said he adored her admitted he thy of her, and asked her if she could love him just a little. When she said ves, he kissed her hand, some time afterward he kissed her forehead fat last her lips “How perfectly lovely,” breathed Betty, ec ful, then k un statically Her maiden Aunt: Myra’s re more thrilling. Her lover nance was even (proposed by letter. He used exquisite stationery, the penmanship was nd the sentiment very touch perfect, the wording beautiful, ing. Aunt Myra kept the letter, a faded rose, and some other mementoes in a sandal-wood box “How perfectly wonderful,” exclaimed Betty how much he admired her sterling « felt willing to share hi: Drawn by A.B. Warxen She—Jack, pear, wrrmin vive minutes Lear Year witt WILL GIVE YOU THOSE FIVE MINUTES TO CONSIDER MY PROPOSAL OF MARRIAC AFTER THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN PROPOSING! GS DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY AIMOIN LIFE RIGHT, KUT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN TO SHOOT finally persuaded her mother to tell how her father He had waited until he was able to offer her a then told her w she was to him an inspirati racter, and asked if she lot “How altogether grand,” said Betty She prevailed on a number of her mar to tell the story of their wooings; she read all the ; she saw all the ed friends love stories of history and rom: motion pictures with love for a theme; she prac of the stars when ticed the poses and expressic their lovers proposed; and she dreamed night and day of the time when her own Prince Charming would come a-riding. All this time she never had a lover or a sweetheart, except, of course, Bobbie, and he did not count, for she had known him all her life One evening Bobbie surprised her by saying “Say, kiddo, I'm gettin’ thirty-five a week now. That is more than Dad got when he started out. Whadda y Betty said “Yes.” 1 say about us gettin’ married? Quien Sabe? By Srvarr Taser [ P like to know what sort of tunes \ band-box plays the best; And was the wagon-tongue one time The language of the West? Do shoe-horns toot, or de The button-hooks to hoc Do looking-glasses ever blush O’er things on which they look? ey teach Do leaves of tables wither up And drop to earth each Fall? And who tells calling-cards just when And what they are to call? I'd really like to know these things, They've puzzled me for years If you can tell me, blaze away T'll lend you both my comicbooks.com