Judge, 1928-06-16 · page 10 of 36
Judge — June 16, 1928 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Good Word" — Judge Magazine Satire This page satirizes the 1920s trend of "companionate divorce" — a legal arrangement allowing couples to separate amicably rather than through adversarial proceedings. The main cartoon mocks this practice's absurdity: Horace's elaborate romantic confession builds to a marriage *dissolution* proposal, not a proposal of marriage. Beulah accepts "divorce" with joy, treating it as a romantic gesture. The satire suggests the concept is so backwards that even genuine affection now culminates in legal separation rather than commitment. The top cartoon about "separated" spouses obtaining a "companionate divorce" reinforces the joke — the term itself was oxymoronic to traditional readers. The page also includes a minor joke about the film "Chang" (1927) and references to "Trader Horn," suggesting this is from the late 1920s when such divorce liberalization was scandalizing conservative audiences.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Sure The Good Word “Beulah, my dear,” he huskily said, a new tenderness in his ce, a warm, vibrant quality was a compound of unde standing and consideration, “I have come to you tonight to ask a question of you, a vital, im- portant question that has long been on my lips. May I speak freely?” lovely light shone in her soft and happiness was reflected in her smile as she significantly said, “Horace, I knew you would appear tonight and I am_ not totally unprepared for the great ey question that you are going to eND—I thought you and your wife had separated. » got a companionate divorce.” use the tradesmen’s entrance? Ex-Wire—See here, my good man, weren’t you instructed to ask.” She grinned elfishly. “So speak from your rt. Know that I understand and am not un- receptive.” Horace turned to the window and looked out at the lights, as if to steel himself. Finally — he turned. “Beulah,” he softly said, taking her tiny hands in his own, “for years I © admired you. er since we were tiny tots I e been your happy and willing slave. At school I carried your books. I caught frogs and worms for you. I licked Tommy Burns. Later I took you to parties and ces. Your happiness has al- ways been my first thought, my prime consideration.” A soft glow in Beulah’s proclaimed only too plainly that the forthcoming question would be answered affirmatively, so “Herbert, will you be good enough to inform him that we are nothing but companions!” Horace faltered not and came to his point. “Little girl,” he to make you happ I want to bring eternal sunshine into your life. Will you, er, will you let me divorce you?” “You darling!” exclaimed Beulah, jumping up and kissing id, “I want —Artuer L, Lippmann A nasty rumor is being spread that that famous jungle picture, “Chang,” was not taken in S at all, but in Trader Horn’s beard. comicbooks.com