Judge — February 27, 1892 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page presents **satirical "solutions" to urban fire hazards**, inspired by recent catastrophic building fires (the "horrible holocausts" referenced). The cartoons mock inadequate fire safety regulations by proposing absurdly impractical remedies. **Key elements:** - **Tall building owners** are caricatured as negligent, prompting sarcastic suggestions like "blow it up" and installing massive parachutes or water-catching devices on roofs - The central image shows an enormous umbrella-like contraption, literally treating a skyscraper fire as if you could shade it away - Other panels depict equally ridiculous apparatus: giant funnels, elaborate pulley systems, and bucket arrangements **The satire's point:** Rather than blame dangerous building construction or insufficient firefighting equipment, Judge ridicules how authorities might respond—with theater rather than genuine reform. The phrase "do no business after publication of this idea" sarcastically suggests these "solutions" are so impractical they'll actually prevent nothing. This critiques indifference to real fire safety hazards in early 20th-century American cities.