Judge — February 3, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Countersign" — Judge, February 3, 1917 This cartoon depicts a smiling woman at a store counter displaying merchandise with a "SPECIAL TODAY" sign. The title "The Countersign" is a pun: it plays on "counter sign" (a password or verification) while showing an actual store counter. The joke appears to satirize retail advertising and sales tactics of the era. The woman's knowing smile and prominent display suggest she's promoting goods through charm and marketing rather than genuine value. The "SPECIAL TODAY" sign—a common retail practice—is being mocked as a formulaic sales technique. The exact product being sold remains unclear from the image, but the cartoon critiques how merchants use attractive presentation and urgency ("TODAY") to move merchandise, a consumer culture concern relevant to 1917.