Judge, 1881-12-03 · page 8 of 16
Judge — December 3, 1881 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical cartoon from *Judge* magazine depicting what appears to be a theatrical or political scene. Two formally-dressed gentlemen sit holding masks or organ diagrams labeled with internal organs (one reads "CORELLI," the other "PORTER"), while a judge or authority figure presides above them. On stage right stands an elaborately-dressed clown or performer in ruffled costume. The caption reads: "REMOVE THE CLOWN AND CLOSE THE [circus/theater]." The satire appears to target theatrical or political figures—the organ diagrams suggest either medical/anatomical mockery or symbolic representations of these men's "inner nature." The caption suggests removing an unwanted performer (the "clown") from a venue, likely commenting on contemporary entertainment or political controversy. Without the magazine's date and full context, the specific identities and event referenced remain unclear, though this appears to critique either theatrical management or public figures portrayed as performers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
(FP THE JUD tay UNIVERSAL C i “REMOVE” THE CLOWN AND CLOSE THE comicbooks.com