Judge, 1898-04-02 · page 16 of 16
Judge — April 2, 1898 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the obsessive craze around puzzle-contests that swept America in the late 19th/early 20th century. The cartoons mock how people became dangerously distracted by puzzle-solving competitions. The jokes include: a man so focused on delivering a puzzle-answer that he ignores a bank crisis; a farmer abandoning education to pursue puzzle prizes; and a man who breaks his leg in an accident but celebrates because his accident-insurance policy (won from a puzzle contest) compensates him. The central image depicts the "twisted feeling" puzzle-workers experienced—showing contorted, obsessed figures hunched over puzzles. The satire critiques how these contests exploited working-class people's hopes for easy money, diverting them from responsible work and priorities like farming or banking. Judge presents puzzle-mania as a social disease causing distraction and poor judgment among ordinary Americans.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
comicbooks.com He was run over and had his leg broken in three ioe 5555 5 ] places, but an accident-insurance policy, won in a St Smmpson—" What's matter, Seth, somebody . j Prize-puzzle contest, made him leap with joy with sick?” ’ - the other foot. . SeTH Biocien—"' Can't stop ; got to catch the { ; 4.30 train with this here puzzle-answer.” CasHier—** One‘of the directors is out here and says he must see you at once or the bank will be _ ruined.” mention that photographs should be sent. ee. I'm away behind on Jopcr’s puzzles for . ** Farming don't pay,” says Farmer Wheatly, ‘an 100 poor to send the children Here's a chance for ministers to do a rushing business. . to school. so we'll jest go into this puzzle business and ge bse and book-larnin’.” COMPRONT 1098. BY ARKELL PUBLISHING COMPANY OF NEW YORK The picture shows that twisted feeling that creeps over puzzle-workers. Sackett & Widelns Lito & Pig Co New York bless me, you are completely worn out with overwork.” PUZZLED PUZZLERS.