Judge, 1885-11-28 · page 16 of 16
Judge — November 28, 1885 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes corruption and political patronage ("boodle" being slang for bribery money). The scene depicts a courtroom or official setting where figures in suits and judicial robes are engaging in what appears to be corrupt dealings. The title references an old song about money disappearing, suggesting a cyclical pattern of political misconduct. The phrase "Get up, Jack! Sit down, John" implies interchangeable corrupt politicians taking turns at power—one leaves office as another arrives, with the same corrupt practices continuing regardless of who holds the position. The cartoon mocks how political corruption persists across administrations, with different individuals perpetuating identical schemes. The formal setting contrasts with the obvious malfeasance occurring within it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
= io) o n x ° fo) 2 2 E io) cs) “When the Boodle is gone ’tis the same old song ” [Adapted from Old Lavender’s song. Get up, Jack! Sit down, John.