Judge — November 19, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine, November 19, 1898 This page satirizes Jack Sprat, the nursery rhyme character whose wife could eat no lean while he could eat no fat. The illustration shows two caricatured figures (likely representing political or social opponents) at a dining table, with text suggesting they "cleaned the plate / And licked the platter clean"—implying they consumed everything despite their supposed opposing preferences. The cartoon appears to critique political compromise or collusion: two parties with ostensibly different positions ultimately cooperating to consume shared resources. The nursery rhyme serves as a vehicle for mockery of politicians or public figures who claim ideological differences but actually work together for mutual benefit. The specific identities of "Jack Sprat" figures are unclear without additional context.