Judge — December 16, 1916 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge cartoon satirizes wealthy employers' stingy Christmas practices. The central bubble shows servants fantasizing about generous holiday bonuses and time off—luxuries they'll never receive. Surrounding vignettes mock the reality: a waiter receives only tips "given him during the year"; servants get a week off "everyone did so shopping early"; a maid gets "good permissions" instead of wages; a janitor receives a turkey "according to our usual custom." The satire contrasts what workers *imagine* receiving with what employers actually grant—minimal compensation disguised as tradition or privilege. The title "Purely Imaginary" emphasizes that workers' hopes for fair Christmas treatment are mere fantasy. It's social commentary on labor exploitation and class inequality dressed as holiday humor.