Judge — May 10, 1930 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Judge Cartoon: "In Ancient Times—Taking the Census" This satirical cartoon depicts an ancient Roman census scene with elaborate architectural grandeur—massive columns, arches, and temple-like structures filled with crowds. A robed official on the left presides over the proceedings while armed soldiers and citizens populate the scene. The satire likely critiques contemporary census-taking practices by showing the absurd formality and military oversight required in ancient times to count populations. The exaggerated scale of the Roman bureaucracy—complete with soldiers, elaborate architecture, and ceremonial pomp—suggests Judge magazine is mocking either the complexity of modern census procedures or government overreach in data collection. The juxtaposition of "ancient times" with contemporary concerns implies this was topical commentary on early 20th-century American census debates.