Judge — December 3, 1881 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts what appears to be a public asylum scene, with figures holding signs identifying themselves as "Mrs. Scoville" ("We know he is insane") and "Geo Scoville" ("Pity the poor brother-in-law"). A guard or official stands behind them with a club. The cartoon mocks a legal or family dispute involving the Scoville family, apparently concerning someone's mental competency. The signs suggest relatives are testifying about or publicizing someone's insanity claim. The "brother-in-law" reference and the chorus caption ("The farce as soon as possible") indicate this is satirizing a sensationalized legal proceeding or commitment case. Without additional context identifying the specific Scoville case, the precise historical reference remains unclear, though this appears to be commentary on a contemporary family scandal involving contested sanity hearings—a subject Judge magazine frequently lampooned.