Judge — July 1, 1922 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This cartoon uses a racial slur in its caption, which is offensive by modern standards but reflects the publication's historical context. The image depicts what appears to be a street scene with multiple figures in period clothing gathered around a package labeled "COMBUSTIBLE." The caption suggests a comedic scenario involving someone obtaining an unstable or dangerous package, with the punchline playing on dialect humor. The satire likely comments on bootlegging or illegal alcohol distribution during Prohibition, a major social issue of the early 20th century. The "bustible package" reference suggests contraband goods, and the anxious crowd's reaction emphasizes the danger and illegality of such trade. Judge magazine regularly satirized Prohibition-era smuggling and the criminal underworld it spawned.