Judge — March 7, 1885 — page 22: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This two-panel Judge magazine cartoon satirizes legal proceedings, likely from the early 20th century. **Top panel ("Going In"):** Shows a donkey in formal attire entering what appears to be a courthouse or judicial building, labeled "The Judge." The donkey carries a document, suggesting it's a plaintiff or defendant. **Bottom panel ("Coming Out"):** Depicts the same donkey emerging battered and diminished, with papers scattered, titled "Coming Out." The satire mocks the judicial system's harsh treatment of defendants or litigants—suggesting that courts strip away dignity and assets from those who enter them. The use of a donkey as the protagonist implies the person involved is foolish or has been made a fool of by the legal process. The cartoon criticizes how litigation can leave participants financially and personally damaged, a common theme in Gilded Age social commentary.