Judge — September 19, 1903 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical illustration depicts an elegant hostess attempting to encourage her guests to leave a late evening gathering. The hostess addresses "Miss Screecher," asking her to sing to help move things along, while Miss Screecher protests that most guests have already gone home—yet some seem reluctant to depart despite the late hour. The humor targets upper-class social conventions and the awkwardness of ending social events. The cartoon mocks both overstaying guests (who won't take hints to leave) and the hostess's indirect, performative attempts at subtly pushing them out rather than directly asking them to go. It's a gentle satire of Gilded Age etiquette and social performance among the wealthy.