Judge — June 23, 1883 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical three-panel cartoon about **Jay Gould**, the wealthy American railroad magnate and financier. The title's "nickel-plated" is a pun—suggesting his trip is merely superficially glamorous despite his vast wealth. The top panel shows Gould surrounded by admirers and children ("The Girls I left behind me"). The middle panel depicts him commanding a ship, claiming to "shiver my timbers" while protecting his "watering stock" (a reference to the financial practice of inflating company value). The bottom panels show him "enjoying a corner" and "unloading"—likely mocking his business dealings and exploitative practices. The satire targets Gould's reputation as a ruthless businessman and robber baron, suggesting his world travels are mere vanity while his real interest remains financial manipulation and profit extraction.