A complete issue · 28 pages · 1915
Judge — July 24, 1915
# "A Raft of Girls" This July 1915 cartoon depicts a group of women on a raft at sea, with one woman standing and gesturing dramatically while others sit or recline around her. The title "A Raft of Girls" suggests a shipwreck scenario. Given the date and *Judge* magazine's satirical nature, this likely comments on women's roles or behavior during the era. The composition—with one woman commanding attention while others appear distressed or dependent—may satirize contemporary anxieties about women's independence or changing social roles during the Progressive Era. The dramatic posturing could mock either women's perceived histrionics or, conversely, critique male assumptions about female helplessness in crisis situations. Without additional context, the specific event or social commentary remains unclear.
# Advertisement for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper This page is primarily **advertising copy** for Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper during World War I. The text boasts that Leslie's employs war correspondents and photographers across multiple theaters—Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Russia, Britain, Belgium, Turkey, Egypt, and the Far East—to provide readers with authentic coverage of the conflict. The left oval photograph shows soldiers in a trench, exemplifying the frontline documentation Leslie's claims to offer. The right photograph shows a correspondent at the front observing German trenches through a periscope. The advertisement emphasizes Leslie's 54-year history covering major conflicts and appeals to American subscribers' patriotic duty to stay informed about the war. It includes a subscription coupon and lists 800+ salesmen available to solicit new subscribers across major American cities.
# "Overtaken" This cartoon depicts five men in suits and straw hats surrounding a woman in a dark dress and wide hat, all holding cameras. The title "Overtaken" suggests the satire's subject: the relentless pursuit of a woman by photographers or journalists. The image satirizes the invasive nature of press photography and paparazzi culture in the early 20th century. The woman appears cornered or overwhelmed by the cameramen closing in from all sides, illustrating how subjects—likely celebrities or society figures—were pursued aggressively by the media. This reflects Judge magazine's commentary on the growing power of photography and journalism, and how their practitioners could hound individuals. The cartoon critiques both the photographers' aggressive tactics and the broader cultural obsession with capturing images of notable figures.
