A complete issue · 24 pages · 1913
Judge — February 1, 1913
# Judge Magazine, February 1, 1913 This is the cover illustration by James Montgomery Flagg for Judge's "Automobile Number." The caption reads "THREE SPEEDS FORWARD—ONE REVERSE," which appears to be a double entendre about automobiles and social behavior. The image depicts four fashionably dressed figures in 1913 attire—three women and one man—in a suggestive pose. The satirical joke likely plays on: 1. **Automobile technology**: Cars had forward and reverse gears, a relatively new feature in 1913 2. **Social commentary**: The suggestive grouping and caption imply commentary on modern courtship and sexual morality among the wealthy classes who could afford automobiles The illustration reflects the period's anxieties about automobiles as spaces enabling unsupervised interactions between young men and women, challenging Victorian social norms.
# "A Club Sandwich" by James Montgomery Flagg This page is primarily an **advertisement** for an art print rather than political satire. The illustration shows a humorous scene labeled "A Club Sandwich"—apparently depicting multiple figures crowded together in a club setting, playing on the double meaning of "sandwich" (the food and being squeezed between others). The ad promotes a framed art print for 25 cents, positioned as part of Judge's "Art Print Series." Flagg, a renowned illustrator, created this lighthearted domestic humor piece. The remaining page content consists of magazine masthead information, subscription rates, and advertising rates—typical of early 20th-century magazine formatting. There is no apparent political commentary or social satire on this particular page.
# "Dare He?" This political cartoon satirizes American imperial ambitions regarding the Philippines. A well-dressed American politician (likely representing U.S. political leadership) holds the American flag aloft over Philippine territory, surrounded by tropical vegetation and what appears to be indigenous populations or soldiers. The caption "Dare He?" poses a challenge: would American leadership dare to formally annex or directly control the Philippines? This references the Spanish-American War's aftermath (1898), when the U.S. faced choices about Philippine governance. The cartoon suggests internal debate about whether America should extend its territorial empire to Asia—a controversial question that divided American policymakers and the public. The tropical setting and flag-planting imagery evoke colonial conquest, inviting readers to question American expansionism.
