Judge — July 23, 1921 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a satirical cartoon titled "Dedication of the New Sewer at Yaff's Crossing," drawn by Johnny Gruelle. It depicts a chaotic street celebration featuring numerous townspeople, animals, vehicles, and storefronts with exaggerated, humorous activity. Visible business signs include "Dick & Hen Shute Meat Market," "Bessie Sigman Elite Hat Shop," and others. The scene shows people parading, playing music (a "Welnite Band"), riding in carts and on animals, with general mayhem and celebration. The satire appears to mock small-town civic pride and the fanfare surrounding public works projects like sewer construction—presenting the dedication ceremony as an over-the-top, chaotic community spectacle where the actual infrastructure project becomes secondary to the carnival-like celebration itself.