Judge — September 5, 1914 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon from *Judge* magazine satirizes various working-class and merchant professions through exaggerated caricature. Each figure wears tortoise-shell glasses—a distinctive accessory—and is labeled by trade: undertaker, distiller, fish dealer, druggist, locksmith, electrician, doctor, watchmaker, artist, musician, plumber, brewer, blacksmith, salvage manufacturer, and banker. The caption "Those tortoise shell glasses would be useful for identification" suggests the joke: these glasses supposedly make each profession's practitioners instantly recognizable. The satire likely mocks either the stereotypical appearance of tradespeople or contemporary fashion trends where tortoise-shell frames were fashionable. Without additional context, the specific satirical target remains unclear—whether it critiques class distinctions, professional vanity, or simply pokes fun at a widespread eyewear trend.