A complete issue · 16 pages · 1883
Judge — July 7, 1883
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Cover, July 7, 1883 This political cartoon satirizes violence in American politics during the Gilded Age. A bearded man (likely representing a political figure or the concept of political violence) prepares to shoot at several effigies hanging from a tree, labeled with names of political figures and dates (1876, 1880). The caption "Who Will Be Hit First?" and chorus "Please, Mr. Dorsey, don't shoot!" suggest anxiety about political assassination or violence. The hanging effigies represent past targets of political violence or assassination attempts. Powder barrels and ammunition at the base emphasize the explosive threat. This appears to critique ongoing political instability and the threat of violence as a political tool during this turbulent period of American history.
# Analysis of This Judge Magazine Page This page satirizes the wealth and spending habits of Gilded Age robber barons, particularly **William H. Vanderbilt** and **Jay Gould**. The main article criticizes how these men accumulate vast fortunes on Wall Street, then dissipate or hoard the money rather than returning it to the public. Vanderbilt's preference for spending on horses and Gould's investment in yachts exemplify this wasteful conspicuous consumption. The piece also attacks **Henry Watterson** (a Louisville newspaper editor) for spreading false stories about political figures like **Samuel J. Tilden**, comparing his deliberate lies unfavorably to the innocent falsehoods of other notorious exaggerators like "Eli Perkins" and "Tom Ochiltree." The satirical point: the wealthy elite either squander money on personal luxuries or lie to protect their interests—neither serves the public good. The tone is mocking indignation at Gilded Age excess and media dishonesty.
