Judge — February 27, 1926 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Infectious Yawn" This four-panel comic illustrates the contagious nature of yawning through a social gathering. The sequence shows: **Panel 1:** A man yawns at a formal party; guests remain composed. **Panel 2:** More guests begin yawning as the behavior spreads. **Panel 3:** The yawning intensifies, affecting nearly everyone present. **Panel 4:** The "infection" spreads beyond the room—guests departing and people outside catch the yawn. The cartoon satirizes how social behaviors and moods spread through groups, using yawning as a humorous metaphor. The title "The Infectious Yawn" plays on contemporary concerns about contagion and disease (common satirical subjects in Judge magazine). It's a lighthearted commentary on crowd psychology and social conformity—how one person's action triggers imitation in others, regardless of context or propriety.