Judge, 1897-01-23 · page 16 of 16
Judge — January 23, 1897 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page from Judge (copyright 1897) presents vignettes mocking working-class poverty and racial stereotypes during the Gilded Age. The central theme concerns economic exploitation: "Weary" (a tramp) accepts work for 25 cents but subcontracts it to an Italian immigrant ("dago") for a dime, pocketing 15 cents profit—satirizing how the poor exploit each other while capital accumulates through their labor. Other panels ridicule: - A scarecrow left standing through winter (mocking rural negligence) - Pickanniny Johnson lacking proper snow-shoes (dehumanizing racial caricature) - Various comic scenarios of poverty and discomfort in snow The title "Beautiful Snow!" is ironic—the "beauty" masks hardship. The artwork reflects 1890s attitudes: casual racism toward African Americans and immigrants, cynicism about working-class dignity, and class-based humor treating poverty as inherently comic rather than tragic. The cartoons reinforce period stereotypes while ostensibly "satirizing" both capital and labor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
—but, eaveloped in a fleecy mantle, Farmer Jones.did not bother to ope night it became of great service 1a take down old scarecrow for the saving bis visit from winter- Snecfnis hen-roost from a dark brethren, Weary (with a jo)—" Dere’s an example uv de confidence capital has in us workin’-men,”* Lapy (sternly)— What's the meaning of thig I dontracted with you to do this job for mnt twenty-five cents!" : : ie evening of the only day that Trawp—" It means I'm fifteen cents in, Pickaninay Johnson had no regulation saow-shoes, but Mr. Sububs Sushi lady, 1 contracted wid de dago ter do it fer the boys had no™* bulge on him. wearing bis arden eee overlooked adime. See!” tics. COPYRIONT 1897 BY THE JUDGE PUBLISHING COMPAKY OF MEW YORK, ‘Sackett a Wilheims Litho Co New York BEAUTIFUL SNOW!