Judge — May 18, 1889 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains **three separate satirical vignettes** mocking rural or working-class figures and their schemes: 1. **"A Country Device"**: Two rustic characters (Farmer Beggs and Jane) attempt to lure people into their home using deception—likely satirizing rural con artists or unsophisticated scams. 2. **"On the Streets"**: A character named Hoax propositions people to have their pictures taken for free—a transparent scheme to exploit naive city dwellers, mocking street hustlers and their transparent tricks. 3. **"An Objection"**: Appears to reference someone objecting to a "Lord of the Herd," possibly satirizing rural hierarchy or agricultural pretension. The overall satirical thrust targets **rural or lower-class deception and gullibility**—a common Judge magazine theme mocking unsophisticated Americans. The crude dialect and character names ("Hoax," "Beggs") reinforce class-based stereotypes typical of Gilded Age satire.