Judge, 1888-04-07 · page 1 of 17
Judge — April 7, 1888 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon mocks excessively elaborate Easter bonnets worn by fashionable women in the 1880s. The two figures shown are identified as "Madame Cleveland" and "Miss Hill"—likely referencing prominent society women of that era. The joke centers on how outrageously oversized and ornate these bonnets had become. Each head sports an impractical tower of fabric, feathers, and decorative elements that dwarf the wearer's actual head. The captions express the women's vanity: one claims the monstrosity makes her "a perfect fright of herself," while the other dismisses concerns about practicality, insisting her style will "take better with the men." The satire targets both the absurdity of fashion trends and women's willingness to embrace uncomfortable, ridiculous styles for social status.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL.13 NO.338 APRIL 7, 1888. PRICE 10 CENTS. ENTERED AT THE “POST OFFICE AT NEW YORK AS SECOND CLASS waTTER, COPYRIaNT “1987 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING Co. EASTER BONNETS. Mapame Cievetanp—“ That woman makes a perfect fright of herself !” Miss Hnu—“ That fat old lady needn’t put on such airs. My style will take better with the men!” comicbooks.com