Judge — January 24, 1920 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Out of the Mire" — Judge Magazine, January 24, 1920 This political cartoon depicts a large bird (likely an eagle, symbolizing America) struggling to lift itself from muddy, mired ground. The drawing is titled "Out of the Mire," suggesting America's difficulty escaping a troubled situation. Given the January 1920 date, this almost certainly references post-World War I America—the nation's struggle to recover from the war's aftermath, economic upheaval, and social turmoil including labor unrest and the first Red Scare. The "mire" represents these interconnected crises threatening national stability. The straining bird suggests optimism about eventual escape from these problems, though the effort required is depicted as considerable and difficult.