Judge, 1898-01-15 · page 16 of 16
Judge — January 15, 1898 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1898 cartoon exposes street con artists posing as blind beggars. A fake blind man ("Faxine Gooctes") manipulates a woman by claiming her voice reveals she's young and beautiful, extracting a dollar tip. The satire targets his transparent scam: he claims blindness prevents him from seeing, yet describes her appearance with suspicious accuracy. The text reveals he's actually "an expert oculist" (eye doctor) pretending disability to earn sympathy money. The title's question mark emphasizes the skepticism—these aren't genuinely blind but fraudsters exploiting public charity. This reflects genuine Progressive-era concerns about urban con artists and street beggars who feigned disabilities. The cartoon ridicules both the fake beggar's transparent deception and, implicitly, the gullible woman who rewards obvious lies with payment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
comicbooks.com FAxine Gocotes—'* It is sad to be blind, miss—for your sweet voice tells me you're a miss.”” Miss ANTEex —* suggest aught else?” FAKING Gocctes—"' Yes, miss; it tells me dat you are ‘bout eighteen years old an’ wery beautiful.” 88 ANTEEK —** What wonderful intuition !" (Drops a dollar.) : Tears fell thick from his sightless orbs. Was it because oe ity of being born blind? No: he had been ‘expert oculist.” _ al ° on Bop poke that so near me face—you might pst me BLIND (?) FAKIRS. Ttening to" Annie Rooney” now dally for Gre year, aad eye out!” Sackett Wobalea Litho & Pg Co Rew York. COMPRONT 1898 SY THE JUD8T PUBLISHING COMPANY OF REW YORA. hen ms