Judge — August 22, 1885 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a satirical cartoon titled "Some of the Reasons Why Money..." depicting various schemes to acquire wealth through questionable means. The cartoon shows multiple figures engaged in dubious financial activities: an art dealer selling a "genuine European oil painting" for $75,000; a man with a sign "Will Sail to China" (appears to be a con artist); and what looks like a woman with "Marriage Certificate" hawking her services—suggesting marriage fraud schemes. There are also figures displaying counterfeit or worthless goods. The satire criticizes widespread financial scams and get-rich-quick schemes prevalent in the era. The caricatured Asian figure likely reflects period stereotypes. The overall message warns readers about common fraud tactics targeting the gullible, using exaggeration and dark humor typical of Judge magazine's social commentary.