Judge — September 5, 1885 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Up-Hill Work for Boss Thompson" This *Judge* cartoon from September 5, 1885, depicts a political figure labeled "Boss Thompson" struggling to push a heavily laden cart uphill. The cart appears to carry burdensome responsibilities or scandals. A figure labeled "David Hill" (likely New York politician David B. Hill) stands to the right, observing the difficult task. The satire mocks Thompson's political struggles or unpopular policies. "Boss" indicates he held machine-politics power. The uphill struggle is literal metaphor for his mounting difficulties. The presence of Hill suggests political rivalry or commentary on New York state politics of that era. Without more biographical context on Thompson, the specific scandal or issue remains unclear, but the cartoon clearly ridicules his political predicament.