Judge, 1929-07-06 · page 22 of 36
Judge — July 6, 1929 — page 22: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes **Peggy Joyce**, a famous 1920s socialite and serial bride known for multiple high-profile marriages. The caption indicates she's starting a "matrimonial agency." The scene depicts a courtroom-like setting where various men discuss marriage prospects while holding contracts and documents. The dialogue reveals the satire's targets: - Men haggling over marriage terms as business transactions - References to prenuptial agreements and financial settlements ("she made him sign a contract") - The absurdity of commodifying matrimony ("388 model for the gentleman") - Repeated failed marriages treated as routine business The humor mocks both Joyce's notorious marital history and the broader 1920s phenomenon of wealthy socialites treating marriage as transactional rather than romantic. The elaborate courtroom setting with hearts (ironic decoration) underscores how love has been replaced by contractual obligation and financial calculation. This reflects Jazz Age anxieties about changing marriage customs and the rise of divorce among the wealthy.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
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