1936: The ‘Modern’ Family
There were a fair number of ‘progressive’ people around in the thirties. Normally they would have sent their children to ‘progressive’ schools such as Bedales and Summerhill. Here the culture shock was going to be intense both for Miss Addison and for Jane.
1928: How to achieve a happy marriage
This sort of cynicism was already live and well during the inter war period.
1931: Predatory female
Parlour Games indeed. The mind boggles as they say. What was she really suggesting?
Very forward of the young woman for the day.
1927: Men as unlikely fashion icons
A fair number of Punch jokes in the twenties and thirties featured holidays in Europe. Although in the north, and not the south, of France Deauville was a fashionable seaside resort as this cartoon shows. Here the suggestion is that the men are making all the running in stylish dressing. This is surely something of a hyperbole.
1927: Selling a car
How is that funny? That car surely can’t do seventy. The copper isn’t likely to participate in the deception. Would the prospect really want to go at seventy miles per hour?
I suppose the cartoonist is well aware of these contradictions.
1933: Not much change here
The clothes look different but the conversation could easily go like this today. To me the patient doesn’t look to be in need of slimming but that is just as likely today.
1927: Bad tempered colonel
What are we to make of this little offering? The colonel isn’t easy to please. The young man hasn’t a chance. Everything about him is wrong. The pullover deserves a mention too.
1927: Inevitable future
Daphne has observed her adult female relatives all busy dieting and she can think of no other future. She doesn’t look too happy about it.
1929: Dressing for dinner
She is determined to make a memorable entrance. His shocked reaction convinces her that she has made the right decision. It is, of course, depressing to realise that this seems to be entire summit of her ambition. ‘Sad’ as someone might tweet today.
1928: The revolting underclass
Could this really have been regarded as humorous at the time? The ‘lady’ seems completely unconcerned about the accident. The driver does show some uneasiness.
1927: British influence in Europe
Two cartoons need to be seen together. They relate to the perception abroad that all the Brits behave in an identical way and that the Continentals are anxious to imitate them.
You may have trouble reading the rather small text in these consecutive drawings. On my machine I can expand the pictures using Windows Photo Viewer. Other routines are available. In case you don’t have access to any I am providing a version which you can read.
Title: Christmas a L’Anglaise
First cartoon top row: They fly from England to avoid the English Christmas. By ‘fly’ we must realise that they are using the cross Channel ferry. Their luggage could never have been carried by the light planes flying at the time.
First cartoon second row: They arrive.
The hotel welcomes them with a placard offering a Grand Englisch Christmas Diner. Note the misspelling of Christmas and Dinner.
First cartoon third row: the wife is presented with the ‘meesletoe’ and the husband is offered ‘ ze stocking for Signor to ‘ang’. They do not look pleased about this.
Second cartoon top row: at dinner they are appalled to be offered ‘ze plom puddong’.
Second cartoon second row: they are forced to join in the traditional (English?) singing of Auld Lang Syne with perfect strangers.
This is clearly too much for them.
The third row sees them back in London eating a continental meal in Soho. No nonsense about an English Christmas.
What is the point of all this elaborate charade? Firstly, that the British upper middle class aren’t all traditionally minded. Secondly, that the foreigners genuinely want to emulate the ‘English’ traditions. Thirdly, that the readers of Punch are likely to feel smugly superior.
“One would think you’ve never been run over before”
1928: Early feminist
So the woman on the right is what we now call a feminist. I wonder what is actually wrong with her stance? Are legs wide apart seen as a male prerogative? If so, that is exactly what the woman on the right intends to take over. However it seems to me that the stance is actually new for the woman take. Then, perhaps I haven’t deciphered this joke at all.
Any suggestions?
1929: Buying a fur coat
This is something that is now definitely a no-no. Wearing a fur coat was something that was a widespread aspiration – not any more. In the background we see the customer’s husband who is going to pay for the coat. He does not seem to be enthusiastic about this purchase.
1928: The doctor mystique
No doubt the midwife is really doing the work and the doctor is getting the credit to say nothing of the fees.
1929: A valid perception
That is as true today as it was in 1929. The car in question is quite impressive.
1931: Bateman Again
This is his undoubted territory – people aghast at someone behaving out of character.
This reminds me of a Jewish joke.
A: How’s the wife?
B: She’s fine.
A: And the children?
B: They’re fine too. You ask about the wife and the kids but you don’t ask how’s business.
A: All right. How’s business?
B: Don’t ask!
1927: Deauville again
She wants to ‘deafen’ all the other women so that everyone will look at her.
1924: The Art Scene
The four people who are on the right of this drawing represent the intellectuals of the day. They don’t look at all strange today both in terms of clothing and also posture. The ‘romantic lady’ does not look out of place today either. By contrast the art critic looks old fashioned but not excessively so.
