Judge, 1921-09-10 · page 12 of 36
Judge — September 10, 1921 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of This Judge Magazine Page **"The Modish Maid"** by La Touche Hancock satirizes changing women's fashion and social anxieties about exposed legs. The poem traces the progression from crinolines (which paradoxically exposed limbs when wind caught them) through modern short skirts, predicting an absurd future where women wear nothing but "paint" like "savages." The humor targets both women's fashion choices and male anxiety about female leg visibility—a contemporary concern in the early 20th century when hemlines were rising. **"Formula"** by Irene Van Valkenburg mocks how men romanticize different qualities in the same woman (Louise). A bachelor finds her charming, a politician appreciates her intellect, a youth loves her femininity, and an explorer values her spirituality. The twist reveals Louise is actually unintelligent and her only genuine passion is eating—she's simply a good listener because her mouth is full. The satire exposes male self-deception and projection onto women. Both pieces critique gender relations and changing social norms of their era through exaggeration and ironic commentary.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Modish Maid By La TOUCHE HANCOCK 1 olden days, when she was seven- teen, She tried to battle with a crinoline, And, when the wind came blustering through the town, She did her very best to keep it down, But very often, as she crossed the street, The people saw, well something more than feet! Now that she does not wear a crino- line, A maiden’s apt to duplicate the scene, For with short skirts that come, cne sometimes sees— Right up to, if not just above, her knees— ° lf train or car or bus she would not lose, The people see, well something more than shoes! And later on most probably she will Year something more attenuated still, Or, maybe, savages will dress, And she their paint, and nothing more—or less, (For modish maidens don’t do things by halves), The people then will see, well, more than calves! don her Drawn by R. ¢¢— OUISE “She is never silly, tion doesn’t irritate. band-hunter, either. . FULLER. TOMMY’S IDEA OF ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. Formula By IRENE VAN VALKENBURG is a wonderful girl,” said the confirmed bachelor. and her conversa- She isn’t a hus- It’s a treat and a comfort to call on her.” elderly politician a “Rather a remarkable girl,” .the greed. “She has brain; she understands a keen man’s ambitions. I don’t believe any one appreciated my speech yesterday more than Louise.” A youth with very serious eyes ob- jected. “I don’t find her intellectual at all. To me she is sweetly feminine —only that, and that’s enough. She is silly at times, and it’s the lovable sort of silliness a man likes. . . . I guess I’ll go to see her this evening.” But a quiet chap just returned from explorations in Africa, inter- vened hurriedly. “I have an engage- ment with her this evening, and I couldn’t give it up. I count a lot on her sympathy. It’s really the spir- itual qualities in Louise that make her companionship so dear—and so necessary.” Louise was, of course, the stupid- est woman in the world. Her great and only passion was eating. Her femininity, her companionship, her intellect, her spirituality, were ex- pressed in the delectable viands she fed to her male friends. Her sym- pathy and understanding and rest- fulness were expressed in the fact that she was a perfect listener- which was natural, since she ate more than they did. And Now She Won’t Bow to Him! She—The book is perfectly horrid. It ought net to be sold! He—How Co you know? Drawn by Exnest Fusir, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKI “A LITTLE. : ‘s