Judge — August 14, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This three-panel comic satirizes the anxiety of hosting houseguests. Panel 1 shows a man frantically hiding items behind his back as visitors approach, captioned "P-S-S-T— HERE THEY COME." Panel 2 depicts the same people now sitting rigidly on chairs with their hands behind their heads—appearing uncomfortable or awkward. Panel 3 reveals the "solution": the original visitors have apparently moved away, replaced by different, presumably more desirable guests, with the caption "OH, THOSE PEOPLE MOVED AWAY." The joke mocks the social pressure homeowners face when preparing for guests and the fantasy of avoiding unwanted visitors altogether. It's relatable domestic humor targeting middle-class anxieties about entertaining and social propriety—typical fare for *Judge* magazine's satirical commentary on American life.