Judge — December 1, 1923 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains two satirical comics typical of early 20th-century American humor: **Top cartoon**: A father questions his high school daughter about dropping American history for chemistry. She quips that chemistry would be useful for "poisoning a faithless lover." The joke satirizes young women's romantic anxieties and their practical, if darkly humorous, approach to education—suggesting girls prioritize boyfriend troubles over academic subjects traditionally considered important. **Bottom cartoon**: A farmer shouts at a woman in a car speeding down a hill, telling her this is no time to "fix yer hair." The humor contrasts rural values (safety, practicality) with urban modernity—specifically women's newfound freedom via automobiles and their perceived vanity about appearance, suggesting reckless driving caused by preoccupation with grooming. Both comics mock changing social norms, particularly young women's independence and unconventional priorities in the early automobile age.