Judge — September 17, 1921 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Bell-Buoy's Sister" This cartoon from Judge (September 17, 1921) shows a woman floating in water wearing a swimming cap and striped bathing suit. The title "The Bell-Buoy's Sister" is a visual pun: the woman functions like a buoy—a floating marker used in navigation—bobbing in the water with her head above the surface, similar to how a bell-buoy warns ships of hazards. The cartoon likely satirizes the popularity of swimming and beach culture among women in the early 1920s, or possibly comments on women's increased public visibility and independence during this era. The humor derives from the clever analogy between the woman as a human "buoy" and actual maritime navigation equipment. The artistic style is credited to S. Werner.