Judge — October 16, 1915 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge page satirizes susceptibility to flattery through two illustrated vignettes. The top image shows a wolf wearing an antelope's coat while conversing with a man—depicting how disguise and deceptive flattery can mask true nature. The accompanying text (a dialogue) warns that flattery can cloud judgment, illustrated by the wolf's claim that the man would "look like a prince adorned with this featherhead." The bottom illustration shows an anthropomorphic donkey or ass-like creature in formal dress, emphasizing the absurdity of flattery making someone accept an unflattering truth about themselves. The satire suggests that people—particularly perhaps politicians or the wealthy—accept ridiculous praise without recognizing their actual character, much as the man might accept the wolf's compliments while failing to see the danger. The moral: flattery blinds us to reality, making us vulnerable to manipulation by those with hidden, harmful intentions.