Judge — December 8, 1894 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes labor strikes by depicting a circus ringmaster's nightmare. A massive elephant—representing labor unrest or striking workers—looms over a circus tent where stock characters (clowns, performers, managers) appear distressed and unable to work. The caption indicates these "stock characters go on strike and refuse to work," suggesting the cartoon critiques how labor disruptions affect entertainment, commerce, or society broadly. The elephant, a symbol of chaos and danger, threatens the orderly circus operation below. Published in *Judge* magazine, this likely comments on contemporary labor activism, presenting strikers as a disruptive force that destabilizes established institutions. The "nightmare" framing suggests the cartoonist viewed strikes as threatening chaos rather than legitimate worker grievances.