Judge — November 28, 1891 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon about a New York Thanksgiving Proclamation. The upper panel shows well-dressed men at a formal dinner table, appearing to celebrate prosperity. Below, the "unfortunates"—depicted as poor, ragged figures—sit among discarded items and broken vessels, unable to participate in the abundance above them. The satire contrasts the official proclamation urging citizens to "be thankful" with the harsh reality of economic inequality. References to "Gov. N.Y. State," "Ohio," and various political labels suggest this addresses Gilded Age wealth disparity and the gap between official rhetoric and ordinary citizens' lived experience. The cartoon critiques the hypocrisy of elite thanksgiving while the poor struggle, a common Progressive Era theme in *Judge* magazine.