Judge, 1925-10-03 · page 19 of 36
Judge — October 3, 1925 — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece depicts a domestic argument between a young married couple as if it were a boxing match. The "Young Wife" attacks her "Kid Husband" upon his arrival home, initially gaining advantage. However, when he makes a cutting remark about her burnt steak ("there isn't a tender spot in my steak either!"), he wins the round by temporarily silencing her. The satire mocks contemporary marriage dynamics and gender roles. The "Kid Husband" appears to be a young, immature man, while the "Young Wife" is portrayed as emotionally manipulative and talkative. The joke's punchline—that the wife's endless talking bothers the neighbors most—reflects early 20th-century stereotypes about nagging wives and henpecked husbands. The boxing metaphor treats marital conflict as entertainment, typical of Judge magazine's irreverent humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Indoor Bouts Young Wife vs. Kid Husband—for the Household Championship AT THE sound of the bell Young Wife rushes out to meet Kid Husband in the hallway. She greets him with a shower of smacks on the face. They clinch. They are sepa- rated by the odor of burning steak coming from the kitchenette. The round is even. The dinner gong sounds, and Hubby is slow to answer it. This draws the first blood. There are several sharp exchanges, neither obtaining a decided advantage. Wifey pecks a little at Hubby with no returns. In order to win him over she changes her tactics. She makes out she feels hurt and at- tempts to draw him out by working on his sympathy. ‘“Isn’t there a tender spot in your nature?” she ventures. He snaps back: “No, and there isn’t a tender spot in my steak either!” This vicious cross catches Wifey completely off her guard and leaves her groggy. Hubby’s round. The Little Woman stages a re- markable come back in this session. She raises her voice and keeps up such a continual line of chin music that the Kid is forced tocover hisears. He doesn’t manage to get in a single word. This is the neighbors’ round by a wide margin. R. g O’Brien comicbooks.com