Judge — February 21, 1891 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This two-panel cartoon satirizes a man identified as "Mr. Wheatley." In the top panel, he sits comfortably indoors, remarking "This room is tarnation cold; guess I'll ring up for a little fire"—showing casual indifference to minor discomfort. The bottom panel, titled "HE KNEW IT ALL," depicts the chaotic consequences: firefighters battle a massive, raging inferno consuming the building. The satire suggests Wheatley's casual request for "a little fire" resulted in catastrophic destruction through incompetence, carelessness, or misunderstanding. The cartoon likely mocks someone whose arrogant overconfidence or thoughtless actions caused disproportionate damage. Without additional context about who Wheatley was or what specific incident this references, the broader satirical point appears to be criticism of ignorant decision-making with serious consequences.