Judge — December 29, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a woman adjusting a man's hat or head covering while he gestures in conversation. The caption reads "Bargo on Sweet-Stuffs" (likely "Embargo on Sweet-Stuffs"). The joke appears to reference wartime rationing or trade restrictions on sugar and candy. The woman's action of adjusting his hat seems to be visual wordplay—she's literally putting restrictions on his "sweet stuff" (his head/hat), mirroring government embargoes on actual sweets. The intimate domestic setting and the woman's assertive gesture suggest satire about how rationing or restrictions affected everyday life and relationships. Without knowing the specific publication date, the context suggests this references either WWI or WWII-era food rationing policies that restricted sugar availability to civilians.