Judge — March 15, 1884 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes the hypocrisy of municipal officials ("aldermen") regarding alcohol regulation. The upper scene shows a "city father" at home, comfortably serving "pure liquors" to guests, while shelves of bottles line his wall. The lower scene depicts the same officials presumably debating what "to do about it"—apparently referring to public drinking or alcohol sales they publicly condemn. The satire targets the double standard: city leaders privately enjoy alcohol while publicly deciding policy (likely Prohibition-era regulation). Signs visible in the gathering reference liquor commerce. The contrast between the respectable home setting and their official stances exposes moral inconsistency—a classic Judge magazine critique of municipal corruption and elite hypocrisy during debates over alcohol control.