Judge — May 4, 1929 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a christening ceremony at what appears to be a London dock (visible Tower Bridge and cathedral in background). A ship is being christened—a traditional ceremony where a bottle is smashed against a vessel's hull for good luck. The humor centers on the dialogue: a man named Aggie refuses to have their child christened by this particular ship, joking that the vessel is so unlucky it will "never christen no kid of ours." The cartoon inverts the typical christening concept—instead of blessing a child, the ship itself is being blessed, yet it appears so destined for misfortune that the speaker wouldn't trust it near his offspring. The satire likely mocks superstitions surrounding ships and maritime luck, or possibly comments on particular vessels or maritime incidents of the period.