Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-16
LOVELY HEROINES OF
THE COMIC CARTOON
Is II Mere Galiantry That Forbids the
CaricaturinE OF All Females
Under Thfrtys
ny N. T.. BAnCoCK.

Have you not sometimes wondered
nov parents with such extraordinary
features as those you see from day to
1ay--and especially on Sundays
posing on the comic pages OF the news
papers. could be favored with such
pretty and attractive daughters:
with an exceedingly large head. who
goes by different names. but is usually
represented as an individual with
family. How he can be supposed ever
10 have found woman willing TO
marry him VIC viii let go, for fat
purse makes formidable woocr. but
IL seems really asking too much OF our
Intelligence to accept him as the papa
OF that statuesque and stunning
creature In modish attire who although
brings his bald head into the picture
any higher than the line OF her dainty
waist.
Then there is the beautiful daughter
task OF breaking into high .'sassety"
she, TO be sure. flashes only occasion
any on the merry scenes. but the
lntS ser rna6ss goss to say wh
after her mother"
Perhaps. were YOU TO ask the author
OF this particularly popular comic
scr!cs' why the heiress OF his scream
more In conformity with her antcce-
dents and surroundings. you would re-
reiHc an answer similar to that made
10 me by cartoonist of less reputc
when questioned along these lines.
The public won't stand for homcly
Girls In pictures" he said
So this, apparently. is the reason that
Romeo whose face more nearly re-
scmbics that OF an imbccilc than an
Intelligent human being. is always de-
n!cted as the woocr Of the most beau
titui Juliet the artist can possibly
in conformity with real life. and. con-
sequcnt>y, more artistic. II some weak
eyed. snub-noscd, frccklcd maiden
idiotic youth had been accepted as n
hero. but OF such We are informed the
PUBLIC Will have none in it's daily or
, weekly dish OF cartoons.
And this leads us naturally to the
question: Why. in these days of equal
suffrage. the female should be any
caricaturist than the male. or why tho
public should expect or desire her
TO beg
Ever since pictorial art Joined hands
with literature, We have had cross
eyed men. handy legged mon. rcd nosed
men. hairless mon. toothless men. men
with ears the size or sauccrs hair
Tipped men. spider-lesEcd men. men
hump backed men. crane -necked men.
loose -jointcd men. lopsided men. men
with bullying foreheads. and men With
colossal feet. all inviting us 10 mirth
as We sean the printed page or sheet.
but the girls and ladi.s, bless them.
they hide behind tho sex fence. and
we get only the pictures OF the comcly
ones
Even Thackeray. who delighted in
caricaturc and made the illustrations
for his own novels and stories, ap-
pears TO have regarded the Srotesquc
as out OF place with fcmninity. True.
ne took decided liberties with the
countcnancc of the Countess Grufa-
nun. in The Rose and the Ring" but
= h,,t III
did with the features Of many of his
male characters to perceive his con-
sideration for the feelings of the ladies.
como into fashion since T fe ay%
time, can We not suggest TO some of
our rising young cartoonists that they
give us the feminine companion pieces
for. say. the silly youth who is always
strokinG imaginary mustachc
while not sucking the handle of his
cane. or the wild-eyed. feature dis
torted man who is wrestling with the
collar button at the hack of his shirt:
A sallow-faced girl with a rather
largo nose and uninyitins lips, might
preternaturally beautiful Office steno-
Sraphcr. Is there not something comic
in the very idea of such one holding
such a job?
Then there is the girl with the white
chalkcd nose; why is she overlooked by
the cartoonists? Possibly if she were
drawn" sufficient number OF times
with nose the size and snaps of
some of those that current cartoons
have made US familiar with, she'd
abandon the habit OF making it so
conspicuous in public
And the young women who so to
oGlce work clothed as for some special
function. would it not be legitimate.
and. perhaps. reformatory, If the car
;oonist were to add IN even moro dar-
ing dccolctte effect to their costumes?
Many reforms have been effected
through tho medium of ridicule, and
until lovely woman becomes entirely
pcrfect Ca state which. of course, she
will eventually attain) see no reason
why, with her vote, she is not entitled
to another prerogativc of mantle
Measure of being caricaturcd. / do not
agree with my young artist friend that
tho public would object.