Judge — May 9, 1891 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon titled "Hayseed's Ark," playing on the Biblical Noah's Ark story. A rural figure (the "hayseed") warns of an incoming storm while animals and caricatured human figures crowd together seeking shelter. The cartoon appears to be political commentary using the ark metaphor—the gathering suggests imminent crisis or danger requiring collective action. The mixed crowd of animals and grotesquely caricatured people likely represents diverse political figures or social groups. The rural speaker's dialect ("ef," "yer," "a-comin'") positions him as a common-sense voice warning elites of approaching trouble. Without the magazine's date, the specific "storm" referenced remains unclear—it could address an impending political crisis, economic collapse, or social upheaval from Judge magazine's era. The satire mocks both the warning messenger and those ignoring him.