Judge — September 13, 1919 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Humidity—Ninety Per Cent" This cartoon by H. Souers (September 13, 1919) depicts a group of children huddled together beneath a large tree during oppressively humid weather. The drawing's title references 90% humidity—an extreme weather condition. The satire appears to target how people, particularly children, endure unbearable summer heat and humidity in New York City. The crowded, uncomfortable positioning of the figures and the heavily shadowed, claustrophobic composition convey the physical misery of the season. The tree offers minimal relief. This is social commentary on urban living conditions during hot weather rather than political satire—mocking how city dwellers must cope with dangerous heat, likely reflecting genuine public concern about health hazards during humid summers in densely populated areas.