Judge — April 19, 1902 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a six-panel satirical comic strip from Judge magazine (1901). The narrative follows a young woman named Lizzie through a morality tale depicting her descent, likely due to drug addiction ("dope"). Each panel shows her progressively deteriorating circumstances—beginning with what appears to be her working as a "switch-girl" (likely a railway worker or similar occupation) and ending in apparent destitution or ruin. The comic employs typical Progressive-era social commentary, using Lizzie's downfall as a cautionary narrative about vice, poverty, and moral corruption. The title's specific reference to "dope" indicates this addresses the period's growing concern about drug addiction and its social consequences, particularly among working-class women. The strip exemplifies Judge's use of serialized narratives for social criticism.