Judge — December 16, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Do You Believe in Santa Claus?" This December 1916 *Judge* cover uses holiday imagery for political satire. A woman in an elegant ball gown holds a ventriloquist's dummy of Santa Claus, suggesting that Santa—and by extension, certain Christmas promises or political assurances—is merely a puppet controlled by others, not a genuine force. The timing (just after the 1916 presidential election) suggests this critiques political rhetoric or promises made during the campaign. The satirical question asks readers whether they still believe in comforting fictions presented by politicians or public figures, implying that like Santa, these promises are manipulated illusions rather than reality. The sophisticated woman may represent the electorate, foolishly clutching at hollow promises.