Judge — September 4, 1926 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The English Channel Pretty Soon" This satirical cartoon by Forbell depicts the English Channel as if it were a heavily regulated waterway with traffic laws, speed limits, and warning signs—treating swimmers like vehicular traffic. The cartoon references **Gertrude Ederle**, the famous swimmer visible on the right, who became the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel (in 1926). The satire mocks the absurdity of imposing bureaucratic regulations and traffic rules on open-water swimming, with signs for "School of Whales," speed limits (10 mph), and even a "jail" for violations. The joke targets over-regulation and the intrusion of modern, bureaucratic governance into natural activities. It's unclear whether the cartoon critiques excessive regulation generally or responds to specific contemporary proposals about Channel safety protocols.