Judge — June 18, 1910 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a tension between education and practical survival. Three figures present contrasting paths: a graduate in academic robes holding a diploma ("sheepskin"—slang for a degree), a stern businessman in the middle, and a working-class woman at a stove preparing food ("pie"). The caption "Sheepskin or Pie?" poses a choice between obtaining a college diploma versus having food on the table. The satire likely critiques the era's debate over whether formal education actually provided economic security for graduates, or whether practical work guaranteed better sustenance. The masked faces suggest this represents universal human dilemmas rather than specific individuals.