Judge, 1922-06-24 · page 10 of 37
Judge — June 24, 1922 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Lawful Larceny" — A Satire on Marriage and Deception This page from *Judge* magazine features cartoonist Arthur Little's satirical drawings depicting "popular crooks"—criminals portrayed as romantic or marital figures. The humor targets gender dynamics and dishonesty in relationships. The central figure is a tall woman with two small men flanking her, suggesting she manipulates multiple male partners. The accompanying quotes mock both men and women: women are criticized for not "working" their husbands properly; men are portrayed as foolish for making emotional commitments they regret. The title "Lawful Larceny" equates marriage to theft—suggesting spouses financially exploit each other. One quote explicitly warns against admitting to marriage, as it "hurts my case," treating matrimony as a legal liability rather than commitment. The satire reflects early 20th-century cynicism about marriage as transactional rather than romantic, with women portrayed as cunning operators and men as gullible dupes. The humor is caustic commentary on marital relations and gender roles of the era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
wtul ceny Arthur Litle Draws Some Popular Crooks “Whom do I kiss good night?” “I guess the money you lost.” a . NC AY \ y | “There is only one I wouldn't be 6 SN } kind of wrong woman at all surprised ‘ 3 { 5 or | —the woman who if some day the y \ WY doesn’t work her man women pass @ Uf right.” law making pro- ri hibition apply only to the men.” PARCARET LAWRENCE ALLAN OIE HARY “A man's lucky if he doesn't make a sucker Aatyinau of himself more than once. I don't know just how much is chipped off my heart, but what's left is yours.” “Being a man’s wife isn’t a guarantee that he doesn’t love her. But don't tell them I’m your wite. It might hurt my case. Because it’s no recommendation.” 8 comicbooks.com