Judge — December 1, 1888 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes what appears to be a corrupt scheme or fraud involving figures labeled "Ben and Levi" who are "taking everything." The scene depicts a shabby room where two central figures (likely Jewish caricatures, given the stereotypical artistic treatment common to Judge magazine of this era) are surrounded by disappointed onlookers and scattered debris including soap boxes and bottles. The title references "disappointed cooks," suggesting these are common people who believed they were participating in something legitimate but have been swindled. The dogs in the foreground may symbolize the degradation of the situation. Without the specific date, the exact scandal referenced remains unclear, but the cartoon clearly mocks a con game where two operators profit while ordinary citizens lose out.