Judge — April 15, 1899 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical comic strip depicts a suburbanite's comedic retaliation against city dwellers. The narrative shows a man discovering his vegetable garden being trampled by what appears to be urban visitors or troublemakers (panels 1-3). He consults with someone, likely a nurseryman or garden expert (panel 4), who provides giant touch-me-not plants with sensitive leaves that close when touched (panel 5-6). When city people later trespass in his garden, the plants trap them en masse (panel 7). The final panel shows the suburbanite and his wife dining contentedly at home, suggesting satisfaction at his botanical trap's success. The satire mocks the growing tension between urban and suburban communities in the 1890s, when suburbanization was creating conflict over property rights, trespassing, and differing social values between city and country residents.