Judge — August 20, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Spain's Last Hour on the Western Hemisphere" This Judge magazine cover from August 20, 1898 satirizes Spain's declining colonial power. The central image depicts an hourglass with sand running out—a visual metaphor for Spain's imminent loss of dominance in the Americas. Armed military figures stand on either side, likely representing Spanish forces or colonial powers. This references the Spanish-American War (1898), which resulted in Spain ceding territories including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The "last hour" caption emphasizes that Spain's Western Hemisphere colonial empire is ending. The hourglass symbolizes time running out for Spanish imperial control, reflecting American victory and the shift of geopolitical power in the region.