Judge — November 4, 1882 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon uses corn market terminology to mock political or social figures. Each panel shows a person in a different physical state or situation, labeled with stock-market language: "Corn is Dull," "Corn is Uneasy," "Corn is Active," "Corn is Down," "Corn is Weak," etc. The joke appears to be a double entendre—applying financial/commodity jargon to describe people's conditions or behaviors. Without knowing the specific historical context or who these caricatured figures represent, it's unclear whether this targets particular politicians, social types, or general human folly. The cartoonist uses physical comedy and exaggerated poses to visually reinforce each "quotation," treating human circumstances like fluctuating market commodities.