Judge — September 9, 1882 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents two contrasting scenes labeled "Past" and "Present" (subtitle indicates Chester A. Arthur, President of the...). **Upper panel ("Past"):** Shows "Chet" and the "boys" in what appears to be a casual, informal gathering—men in period dress playing cards or socializing in a relaxed setting. **Lower panel ("Present"):** Depicts a formal, elaborate dinner party with well-dressed guests, women in evening wear with flowers, waiters, and fine dining—suggesting wealth and formal society. **The satire:** The comparison mocks Chester Arthur's transformation from his reputation as a casual, convivial politician ("Chet and the boys") to his role as President conducting formal state functions and high society events. It satirizes how political office elevated him to refined, stiff formality, contrasting his earlier informal reputation with his present dignified but less personable status.