Judge, 1921-06-11 · page 12 of 36
Judge — June 11, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "And the Home of the Brave" - Satire Explanation This story by S. Gordon Gurwit satirizes the transformation of a fearless man through marriage. The narrative traces a decorated WWI aviator—brave as a child, fighter, rescuer, and soldier with military honors (D.S.C., Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre)—who becomes timid and hen-pecked after marrying a "sweet, soft, timid little maiden." By age twenty-eight, this decorated war hero fears carpet stains, missing dinner, his mother-in-law's judgment, refusing loans, and his wife's disapproval. The satire's point: marriage to a conventional, timid woman "civilizes" him into complete subjugation, stripping away his independence and courage. The accompanying illustrations and brief jokes reinforce this theme—a nervous bridegroom dreading his wedding, a woman fearful of swimming—mocking both female timidity and its emasculating effect on men. The satire critiques Victorian gender dynamics where marriage transforms masculine boldness into domestic anxiety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wo Kame Henry, pon't you THINK IT" NGEROUS “Not tf YOU DON'T GO IN OVER YouR wiDTH “—And the Home of the Brave" Ry 8. Gorvox Gurwit 1 Sa wee child, he was never afraid of the dark.“ Boogyman” didn’t scare him. ul Asa school-boy he was.a fearless fighter, tackling larger boys and whipping them I At high-school, he was captain of the football team, and one summer day rescued 1 pal from drowning, by boldly risking his own life IV At college, the newspapers occasionally spoke of him upon the Sporting Page, and commented upon his gameness \ When the country went to war, he be came an aviator, and wrote an imperish able page in the book of his country’s his. tory. He was in twenty-four major en gagements, had nine official victories to his credit in solo fights, and was decorated by three governments for his dauntless cour his unusual daring. Vi He came back lean, hard, brown, wear ing the D. S. C., the Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre, the Order of Leopold and a careless, level-lidded smile Vu When he was twenty-seven he met a sweet, soft, timid little maiden, who was , and who clung to him with age afraid of mic an insidious sweetness that penctrated. He married her. VU At twenty-eight, he’s afraid to let cigar or cigarette ashes drop on the carpet; he gets scared if he misses his regular car and me fifteen minutes late to dinner; he can’t meet his mother-in-law’s eyes comes hi squarely, because they somehow seem to be telling him that he’s a worm; he’s afraid to refuse his eighty-seven pound brother-in. law’s requests for small, ‘*temporary” loans; he is compelled to wear flannel and rubbers on wet days; he alw refuses a drink when his wife’s eyes are upon him; he’s always in a nervous fret and stew over something or other, He hardly dares call his soul his own. IX His wife says he's becoming “civilized,” and the “sweetest, dearest boy.” xX You tell ‘em! Hell's Center “They say that if you stand at this cor ner long enough you'll meet everybody you ever knew.” “Migawd! Let’s hurry and get away!” Not Over Optimistic Nervous Bridegroom (dressing for wed ding ceremony)—I'll be happy when this thing is over! Best Man (a confirmed bachelor)—Well L hope you will, old top Drawn by CW MAON Tue Exp ov Theik Romance