A complete issue · 16 pages · 1890
Judge — August 30, 1890
# "That Wicked Little Farmer Boy" — Judge, August 30, 1890 This political cartoon depicts an elephant (the Republican Party symbol) being manipulated by a small farmer figure on the left. The elephant, wearing what appears to be formal dress and a Capitol dome visible in the background, is being controlled like a puppet or toy. The title suggests criticism of agricultural or rural political influence—possibly referencing farmers' growing political power during the 1880s-90s, a period of agrarian discontent. The "wicked little farmer boy" likely represents populist or farming-class movements challenging Republican establishment control. The satire appears to mock either the unexpected influence of farm-based politics on national government, or conversely, warns of dangerous rural manipulation of traditional power structures. Without more specific context about 1890 agricultural politics, the exact target remains somewhat unclear.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 330 The main cartoon depicts two dogs having a conversation beside a fence. One dog asks the other, "Well, old Graybeard, what's the matter with you?" The other responds, "Oh, nothing—just been on the fence." This is a visual pun playing on the phrase "sitting on the fence"—meaning political indecision or neutrality. The cartoon satirizes politicians or public figures who avoid taking clear positions on issues. By literally depicting dogs on/beside a fence, Judge makes the metaphor concrete and absurd, mocking the wishy-washy nature of such fence-sitting behavior. The surrounding editorial content discusses farmers' political allegiances and Speaker Reed's controversial positions, suggesting this cartoon comments on broader political evasiveness during this era.
# "Judge" Page 331 Analysis This page contains political commentary and cartoons from Judge magazine's "Judge" section. The top cartoon titled "At Shelter Island" depicts two men and a woman in conversation, with accompanying dialogue about a woman named Skippy and marriage prospects—appearing to be social satire about courtship and relationships among the wealthy. The bottom cartoon, "An Excusable Pun," shows characters named Claudia and Amelia in a boat with a man, making jokes about a "rudder" and someone named Dick. This appears to be gentle domestic humor rather than political satire. The text blocks discuss various topics including Cleveland (likely President Grover Cleveland), capital punishment, Jimmy Haskel as a potential speaker, and commentary on the Louisiana lottery company and state governance. The overall page mixes social commentary with topical political critique typical of late-19th century Judge magazine content.
# Analysis: Page 332 of Judge Magazine This page contains miscellaneous satirical commentary typical of Judge's "Hum of the Court" section—brief, disconnected jokes on social and political topics. **Key items:** - **"A Pessimistic Revery"**: A philosophical poem mocking nature's apparent irrationality and life's absurdities (sleep, eating, breathing as necessities). - **"A Blow at Incongruity"**: A farmer claims he can wear fancy leather-top boots to Sunday service because he served twenty-four years as a "bucket-passer" on a ship—satirizing false social pretension. - **Court Humorous Notes**: Brief jabs at contemporary figures including Prince George's May visit, Mrs. Joe Chamberlain, Milwaukee's monument to Kosciusko, Gail Hamilton's Bible talks, and electoral matters in Kentucky/Alabama. - **Illustrations**: Satirical sketches accompanying various quips, including beach scenes and family scenarios. The page demonstrates Judge's style: sharp one-liners targeting social hypocrisy, pretension, and contemporary public figures, with supporting cartoons and literary commentary. Without specific date attribution, precise identifications of some figures remain unclear.
