A complete issue · 16 pages · 1889
Judge — March 23, 1889
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "John the Postman Runs the Gauntlet of Mud" This March 23, 1889 *Judge* cartoon satirizes attacks on the Postmaster General by the Democratic press. The central figure represents "John the Postman"—likely Postmaster General John Wanamaker, a Republican appointee. He's depicted running through a literal "gauntlet of mud," with Democratic newspapers and figures hurling attacks (shown as mud and objects) at him from both sides. The cartoon mocks Democratic journalists for conducting what the Republican *Judge* considers unfair, relentless assaults on the postmaster's character and administration. The mailbags and postal imagery reinforce his government role. This reflects the fierce partisan press battles typical of late-19th-century American politics, where each party's publications viciously attacked the other's officials.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 386 The main cartoon, titled "EXTREMELY FICKLE," depicts three figures in period dress appearing to court or flatter a woman, illustrating the caption's joke about inconstancy in romance. The dialogue references "Miss Daisy," a "rose between thorns," and mentions characters named Warren Manning and others, suggesting this depicts a specific social scandal or romantic entanglement among notable figures, though the specific identities remain unclear from the image alone. The surrounding editorial content addresses political appointments and office-seeking in the postal service, criticizing both parties' patronage practices. The text condemns the "mob solicitations of place" and argues that postal service positions should be merit-based rather than political rewards, attacking what it calls the "superciliousness and senility" of England and Canada's civil-service system by comparison.
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains several political cartoons and commentary from the late 19th century (likely 1889, given references to Harrison's inauguration and the Centennial). **Main satirical targets:** - **"Ireland's Best Friend"**: Praises Gladstone's renewed interest in Irish justice, particularly regarding the Parnell case - **"What's Become of Justice?"**: Criticizes expensive boodle trials that drain taxpayers with little result - **"The Centennial"**: References Harrison's presidency repeating Washington's historical path, and takes shots at protective tariffs and cross-border criminal harboring between US and Canada - **Milan of Servia**: Dark humor about the Serbian king's worthless life - **General commentary**: Mocks the Democratic Party as effectively non-existent, and jokes about obscure people being museum attractions The cartoons use typical Judge-style illustrated humor with working-class and political figures as subjects. The overall tone criticizes government inefficiency, legal corruption, and celebrates nationalist/protectionist policies of the Harrison administration.
# Explanation for Modern Readers This Judge magazine page (circa 1889, based on North Dakota statehood reference) contains satirical humor and social commentary: **"A Silk Sachet"**: A sentimental poem about a man receiving a gift from a woman, complicated by his engagement to a Brooklyn girl. The satire mocks romantic entanglements and the anxiety such gifts create. **"Hum of the Court"**: Brief satirical jabs at public figures, including: - Mrs. Booth (Salvation Army leader) — pun on her name meaning "beautiful" - Russell B. Harrison (son of President Benjamin Harrison) — mocking his reliance on inherited status - A newspaper story about a wife finding her lost husband but going mad **"Off on His Spelling"**: A joke about spelling inconsistencies in advertising. **"What Women Wear"**: Two cartoons satirizing the absurd fashion trend of women wearing small dead animals as hat decoration—likely snakes and small mammals. This was genuine 1880s-90s fashion the magazine ridicules as ridiculous and cruel. The overall tone is genteel Victorian satire targeting society's vanities, pretensions, and fashions.
