A complete issue · 16 pages · 1881
Judge — December 17, 1881
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The Same Thing Over Again" (December 17, 1881) This cartoon satirizes the continuity of presidential policy between Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes. The central figure (likely Hayes, based on the caption) is depicted as a cook stirring a pot labeled with presidential messaging, while Grant appears in the background offering suggestions. The cartoon's title and caption suggest Hayes is simply recycling Grant's old political proposals rather than offering fresh ideas. The "bill board" behind displays various presidential priorities including military and naval matters, implying routine, repetitive governance. The satire critiques the lack of innovation in late 19th-century Republican politics, suggesting successive administrations merely rehashed previous policies without substantial reform or new direction.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains two satirical pieces targeting contemporary social issues: **"Pity the Mormon"** critiques polygamy in Mormon communities. Judge argues that multiple wives create domestic chaos—washing bills, circus trips with angry spouses—portraying the Mormon man as pitiable and suggesting federal intervention is justified. The satire appeals to nationalist sentiment ("One flag, one country, and one wife!"), reflecting 1880s anti-Mormon sentiment that led to federal prosecution of polygamy. **"Poor Little Corinne"** attacks Elbridge T. Gerry and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Judge argues that removing child actress "Little Corinne" from her wealthy, comfortable home and placing her in an asylum is itself cruel—an abuse of power by reformers seeking publicity. The piece sarcastically questions whether Gerry, despite his "fine-blooded" heritage, has succumbed to "advertising itch." Judge suggests such reformers should focus on genuinely poor children instead. Both pieces satirize what Judge views as misguided moral crusades.
# "The Candid Waiter" and "The Drummer": 19th-Century American Satire **"The Candid Waiter"** mocks deceptive restaurant practices. A diner asks a waiter for recommendations, but the waiter candidly reveals that every dish is fraudulent: the "fillet" contains cow offal, the duck-stew is buzzard, steaks are rubber and bone, lettuce is seaweed. The joke satirizes restaurants that serve inferior or adulterated food while charging premium prices—a common complaint in urban dining during this era. The waiter's honesty is unusual; normally such deceptions remain hidden. **"The Drummer"** (meaning a traveling salesman) criticizes aggressive sales tactics used by New York drummers preying on country merchants. Unlike Boston drummers who bring samples to demonstrate quality, the New Yorker simply inspects the merchant's stock and pressures him to order. The satire targets manipulative sales methods and the exploitation of rural shopkeepers by city-based salesmen who use flattery and presumption rather than genuine product knowledge. Both pieces reflect Gilded Age anxieties about urban commerce and dishonest business practices.
