Judge — June 8, 1895 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page satirizes early-1900s political candidates competing against fashionable trends. The top section contrasts a "dude of a year ago" with today's fashionable gentleman, mocking how style changes rapidly. The lower cartoons show various political candidates—including an "Irish Candidate" and "German Candidate"—struggling for attention against bicycling craze and road safety concerns. One panel depicts cyclists navigating terrible roads, captioned "Riders are as liable to have accidents on account of our terrible roads that they should go prepared." The satire suggests that while politicians campaign, the public is distracted by trivial fashion fads and recreational activities. The "combination that is hard to beat" refers to how bicycling enthusiasm overshadows political discourse—a commentary on what voters actually care about versus serious political issues.