Judge — September 16, 1922 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Cartoon Analysis This illustration satirizes hasty marriages followed by divorce. The dialogue reads: "Sudden trip, isn't it?" / "It's Paris for me before they put a tariff on divorces." The cartoon jokes about the ease of obtaining divorces in Paris compared to America. A woman appears to be fleeing to France to secure a quick divorce before hypothetical new U.S. tariffs or legal restrictions could be imposed. The scene depicts what seems to be a domestic interior with other figures present. The satire targets both the prevalence of "Paris divorces" among wealthy Americans and anxieties about potential government regulation of divorce. This reflects early-20th-century social attitudes: divorce was scandalous and legally difficult in many U.S. states, making Paris a popular destination for Americans seeking separation. The joke assumes readers would find humor in someone's desperation to access easy divorce before legal barriers increase.