Judge — February 21, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge page satirizes the rising cost of gas bills through multiple cartoon panels. "Light Countenances" shows people celebrating a sign advertising "Great Reduction in the Price of Gas." "Second Bill En-Route" depicts the gas bill's journey through bureaucratic channels, suggesting delays and complications. "A Strike for Freedom" shows a figure holding up a gas meter marked "Figures Never Lie," sarcastically commenting that meters supposedly don't lie—yet bills keep rising. The final panels mock gas company clerks being "Wanted" in large numbers, suggesting the overwhelming administrative burden of processing inflated bills. Overall, the cartoons criticize gas companies for charging excessive fees despite claims of reduced prices, and mock the bureaucratic apparatus supporting these practices.