Judge — September 25, 1915 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration depicts a worried face with hands cradling the chin, titled **"Preparedness."** The cartoon likely satirizes American debates about military readiness in 1915, when World War I was raging in Europe but the U.S. remained neutral. The anxious expression suggests concern about the nation's defensive capabilities. "Preparedness" was a hotly debated political issue—advocates wanted increased military spending and readiness, while opponents feared it meant moving toward war involvement. The emotional distress conveyed by the face implies Judge's perspective: that anxiety about preparedness itself troubled the nation, whether the concern was justified or exaggerated remains the cartoon's ambiguous point.