A complete issue · 28 pages · 1917
Judge — June 2, 1917
# "Darn It All!" - Judge, June 2, 1917 This cartoon depicts a woman doing domestic laundry work, washing dishes in a large tub while plates dry on a rack behind her. The title "Darn It All!" and scattered tools/implements on the floor suggest frustration with household duties. Published in 1917—the year America entered World War I—this likely comments on women's domestic burden during wartime. The crowded composition and the woman's apparent exasperation humorously convey the endless, repetitive nature of housework. The magazine may be satirizing either the constancy of women's domestic responsibilities despite wartime changes, or expressing sympathy for their situation. The exact satirical target remains somewhat ambiguous from the image alone.
# June 2, 1917 Judge Magazine Contents Page This is primarily a contents/masthead page for Judge magazine's June 2, 1917 issue, featuring advertorial and table of contents rather than political cartoons. The small cartoon strip at top left (labeled "Six Great Books") appears to show scenes of business success and self-improvement through reading—reflecting early 20th-century faith in educational advancement. The adjacent advertisement for "The Art of Writing and Speaking the English Language" by Sherwin Cody emphasizes that clear expression leads to professional success ("surely fortune is with the man who has developed his power of expression"). This reflects 1917-era assumptions about class mobility through self-education and communication skills. The overall page documents Judge's claim as "the largest circulation of any humorous publication in America."
# Analysis of "All Dressed Up and No Place to Go" This sketch by B. Cory Kilvert depicts an winged female figure (likely representing Victory or Hope) sitting despondently on what appears to be a grave or battlefield, with bones visible beneath. The figure is "all dressed up"—wearing formal drapery and wings—yet has nowhere to go. The cartoon satirizes a specific historical moment, though the exact context isn't entirely clear from this page alone. It likely comments on a failed military campaign, abandoned diplomatic effort, or postponed event during the magazine's publication period. The ironic title suggests wasted preparation or squandered opportunity—a common Judge theme criticizing political mismanagement or broken promises. The classical allegorical figure emphasizes the gravity of whatever matter is being mocked.
