Judge, 1890-02-22 · page 16 of 16
Judge — February 22, 1890 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Judge cartoon satirizes New York City (personified as "Father Knickerbocker," a traditional symbol of Manhattan) for perpetually begging for money despite being wealthy. The image shows Knickerbocker in ragged clothes, literally begging with a sign listing financial needs ("PLEASE HELP POOR..."). The satire critiques the city's chronic municipal budget crises and infrastructure funding problems—despite New York's obvious wealth and status as "the richest city on the continent," it constantly petitions citizens and the state for money. The joke is the contradiction: a powerful, wealthy metropolis positioned as a pauper, perpetually underfunded for public needs despite its resources.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
| E 5 c a 7 x ° fo) 2 2 E 5 cs) THE EVERLASTING BEGGAR. Jupce —‘‘ Father Knickerbocker, I am ashamed of you. You are the richest city on the continent, and yet you continually stand in the attitude of a beggar.”