Judge, 1889-11-09 · page 3 of 18
Judge — November 9, 1889 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Judge Page 69 **Top Cartoon ("A Break in the Dance"):** Satirizes Democratic Party politics, specifically the 1884 presidential choice between Grover Cleveland and David (likely David B. Hill). The text argues Cleveland's tactful vagueness about tariffs is both diplomatic and necessary since the party itself is divided on the issue. The joke is that Democrats are damned either way—whichever candidate they choose will fail like the overambitious climber in Longfellow's "Excelsior," struggling uphill only to die in the attempt. The tariff controversy has poisoned the nomination. **Bottom Cartoons ("An Uncomfortable Illusion"):** Two separate gags about theater performers. The left shows a man in costume at "Ponatavia the Mystery." The right depicts a manager pressuring an actress named Jenny to smile for incoming "jays" (slang for foolish spectators), though she finds it difficult. Both mock the artificiality of theatrical performance and audience expectations. The page reflects late-19th-century political polarization and entertainment industry commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A BREAK IN THE DANCE. 5 Why, where are you going, Uncle Peldiah ?" Mr, Sou ng his first lanciers)—* in her life!" ‘m startin’ fer that little yaller-headed gal’s p'sition, but I don't b'lieve she ever played puss-'n-th'-corner afore been extraordinarily wise or great. It is thought by Democrats generally that he is a good partisan manager, but that he is nothing moi thought, on the other hand, that Grover’s bluntness recompense for his lack of political sagacity whichever you select you are going to be sorry you didn’t take the other. This is to be said for David—he is not a pronounced advocate of free trade, and he has said nothing to show that he is utterly opposed to pro- tection, A very discreet man is David in all respects. He never declares himself for this or that, contenting himself with a hint to the effect that he may or not be for either. That is diplomacy, and it is especially good in his case because his party doesn’t know whether it is for this or that or something else. But, whatever the choice of the next Democratic national convention, the fate of the youth who did the Excelsior business will be visited upon the choice. It will be the candidate's privilege to carry the Democratic banner to the top of the frozen acclivity and die there, remarking between gasps that he wants to go higher but the elevator necessary to that achievement has been removed. Mr. Cleveland's tariff courage has made a Democratic national nomination as barren of pleasing result as the side of an unproductive mountain in the middle of January. AN UNCOMFORTABLE ILLUSION. MANAGER —"'Say, Jenny, th’ jays are comin’ in, ‘Try to look pleas- ant, won't yer? —But for certain reasons known emphatically to herself Miss Jenny finds it extremely hard to comply with the request. comicbooks.com