Judge, 1889-01-12 · page 16 of 16
Judge — January 12, 1889 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon depicts economic inequality through a lunch counter metaphor. Figures at different social/economic levels—messenger, bank teller, office boy, bank cashier, bank president, and clerk—stand before food of varying quality, representing their respective wages and station. The joke critiques the extreme wealth disparity: the bank president has abundant food but lacks appetite to enjoy it, while lower-ranking workers (messenger, office boy) fantasize about modest meals they cannot afford. The "progressive" title sarcastically suggests this hierarchical system represents progress. The cartoon likely references early 20th-century labor debates and wealth inequality during the Progressive Era. It mocks both the indifference of wealthy elites and the desperate aspiration of working-class employees—suggesting the system is fundamentally unjust, where those with least resources most desire basic comforts, while the wealthy remain unsatisfied.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
. £ 5 o n x ° fo) 2 2 E ie) cs) THE PROGRESSIVE LUNCH COUNTER. Nxwssor—Wish I had some of dat ple. BANK TELLED—Porhape If I'm faithful for fifteen or twenty years longer, / oan have Yellow Label every day. MESSENGER—I'd like tor steal some of dat fellor’s mutton broth. ‘BANK CASEIER—Wonder what the Governor's going to eat, With his money, I'd Keep my ewn lunch cook. Ovrice Bor—It I was gettin’ a Fousand a year, I'd eat more than « quarter’s worth, / would! Bax PansrpENT—Ob'! if I only had an appetite! CianE—Hope VR be Axed well enough to est crab.stew fer luncheon, some time,