Judge — November 20, 1915 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "If Their Wishes Came True" This Thanksgiving-themed cartoon satirizes wealth inequality during World War I. A man and woman (appearing to represent working-class Americans) hold open a giant wishbone while an angel presides over it. Inside the wishbone's shell, money spills abundantly—coins, bills, and financial symbols overflow. The satire's point: the couple wishes for wealth and prosperity, but the cartoon's title suggests this remains merely a fantasy. The contrast between their modest clothing and the overflowing riches inside the wishbone critiques the gap between ordinary citizens' aspirations and economic reality during the war years when profits concentrated among industrialists while workers struggled. The angel overhead adds ironic commentary—heavenly blessing on material desires rather than spiritual thanksgiving.