Judge — February 17, 1883 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon critiques fraudulent schemes targeting immigrants in America. The four-panel narrative shows: **Panel 1:** "Ready for the plains" — hunters prepare with dogs and equipment. **Panel 2:** "The hunter surprised by the game" — a large bear (representing dangerous criminals or con artists) emerges unexpectedly. **Panel 3:** "A still hunt—Bogue letters of introduction" — indoor scene depicting forged credentials being used to deceive victims. **Panel 4:** "Forged letters of credit returned—The game surprised with the hunter" — the scheme unravels as fake documents are exposed. The title "America as a Hunting Ground" suggests that America itself becomes a dangerous territory where con artists hunt naive immigrants using forged letters of introduction and credit. The cartoon satirizes the vulnerability of newcomers to systematic fraud and deception.