Judge — December 29, 1928 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This cartoon satirizes religious extremism and superstitious belief. The caption reads: "A believer in preparedness drops in to ascertain his bank balance." The scene shows a man in formal attire entering a bank, where an "AMBULANCE" is visibly displayed outside and an "OXYGEN" tank sits in the foreground. These medical implements suggest the man expects a health crisis from discovering his financial situation. The satire targets someone whose religious faith in divine "preparedness" (a contemporary concept emphasizing readiness) is so fervent that he anticipates divine punishment or shock upon learning his bank balance. The cartoon mocks the contradiction between religious belief and practical financial responsibility, suggesting such blind faith leads to absurd anxiety about material matters. The cartoonist is credited as "Gardner Rea."