Judge, 1926-09-25 · page 8 of 36
Judge — September 25, 1926 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Great Greek Beauty Contest" This satirical piece mocks both ancient Greek philosophy and contemporary beauty standards. Socrates, the famous philosopher, is portrayed as foolishly betting his money on "Miss Athens," a brunette he's confident will win. However, the judges award the prize to "Miss Babylonia," a blonde, causing Socrates to lose his wager. The joke plays on the phrase "Gentlemen prefer 'em"—likely referencing the popular saying "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." By setting this in ancient Greece with the philosopher Socrates as the dupe, Judge magazine satirizes both classical learning (making the wise Socrates foolish about women) and contemporary preferences for blonde beauty over brunette. The cartoon mocks male predictability regarding women's appearance while poking fun at both high philosophy and low gambling instincts.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE Coining money. The Great Greek Beauty Contest (prosicater speaking, it isn’t so long ago that the most famous of all beauty contests was held in ancient Greece. And in those days a good-looking girl was a good- looking girl and not ‘ag and a bone and a hank of hair,”’ a “cup of coffee, a sandwich and you,” or any other of the famous trinities. Well, the Greek populace turned out to a man and, I might add, to a woman. Slaves rubbed shoulders with the bon ton, philosophers wan- dered aimlesssly amid the throng, young Spartans with foxes gnawing at their vitals lent a pleasing touch to the scene. All was laughter and gaiety, and above the tumult rang that familiar cry that we now know so well: “Get your winning colors here!” In a great cleared space there was a pavilion beneath which sat the civic fathers whose duty it was to judge the contestants and award the prize. There also sat the renowned Socrates who, though not a judge, was permitted this honor by virtue of his high standing in the commun- ity. Socrates smiled complacently and rubbed his chin, for only that morning he had put his last drachma together with his shirt on “Miss Athens,” a paragon of brunette beauty who, in his opinion, was sure to win in a walk. And as he gazed over the contestants and noted how his favorite stood out like an under- taker’s lily in a coal pile, he could not refrain from congratulating himself upon being a lad who knew his onions. After a few brisk rounds of argu- mentation the civic fathers got the show narrowed down to four con- testants. These consisted of the “Misses Nineveh and Sidon,” stately brunette iss Athens” and a chit of a blonde called “Miss Babylonia.” Socrates permitted himself to guffaw politel in. The race was as good as Miss Athens” had the others lashed to the mast and covered over with sail cloth. The rabble pressed close to hear the decision. The civic fathers bent their heads in conference. Then, after several minutes of wrangling, they parted and sat down in stately fashion. Socrates smirked as a herald stepped out. The herald spoke amid stunning silence. “The prize of one ge vanized iron boudoir cap has been awarded to ‘Miss Bab; girl now s onia,’ the short blonde ding on the right.” Socrates was the first to speak. “Oh, well,” he said philosophically, reaching for his hemlock _ flask, “Gentlemen prefer “em.” Edwin Rutt (Suimenaney~) Many aman has gotten ti Golden Gate from a blonde. om = mane Judge pays $5 for each one printed lver Threads Among the Gold.” 6 comicbooks.com Wf