Judge — July 28, 1923 — page 20: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a single cartoon captioned "Mr. Everyman returns from his vacation and plunges into his work." The image shows a portly businessman seated at a desk, surrounded by several men (likely colleagues or subordinates) who appear to be presenting him with stacks of papers and documents. The scene depicts the common workplace experience of returning from time off to find an overwhelming backlog of work awaiting attention. The satire is straightforward workplace humor: the contrast between vacation relaxation and the chaotic reality of accumulated tasks. "Mr. Everyman" is a generic everyman figure—representing any ordinary working person—facing the universal frustration of post-vacation office life. The cartoon mocks the inevitable deluge of paperwork and responsibilities that greet returning employees, a timeless complaint that remains relatable today.