A complete issue · 20 pages · 1891
Judge — November 28, 1891
# "Two New Chicks in the Presidential Barnyard" This is a political cartoon from *Judge* magazine (November 28, 1891) satirizing the U.S. presidency. The title and caption—"If they grow much more we will be out of sight!"—suggest commentary on newcomers or challengers to established political power. The cartoon depicts caricatured figures in a barnyard setting. The "old roosters" (established political figures) worry about "two new chicks" (likely rising political rivals or third-party candidates) becoming too prominent and overshadowing them. Without specific context about 1891 politics, the exact identities remain unclear, but the agricultural metaphor critiques how the political establishment fears competition from emerging forces that could disrupt the existing power structure.
# Analysis This page from *Judge* magazine contains political commentary rather than a cohesive cartoon. The snippets target various figures and issues: **Identifiable references:** - R.P. Flower's gubernatorial ambitions - Calvin S. Brice and John Sherman (Ohio politics) - Governor Russell of Massachusetts - Various unnamed political figures critiqued for specific behaviors **Main satirical points:** The text mocks politicians for hypocrisy and self-serving ambition—Flower treating the governorship as a stepping stone, Russell's patronizing treatment, and officials failing to govern responsibly. One section criticizes foreign governments' agents making mischief in America. **The central cartoon** (captioned "HE HAD HER") appears to depict a liquor-related confrontation, likely satirizing temperance debates or alcohol policy. The page is primarily *editorial commentary* rather than visual satire, using sharp wit to critique political opportunism and negligent leadership.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page 551 **Top Cartoon: "Goin' Home - Thanksgivin'"** This depicts a crowded holiday train scene with working-class passengers returning home for Thanksgiving. The poem expresses nostalgic longing for humble domestic comforts—mother's cooking, familiar surroundings, simple pleasures—contrasted with the speaker's current urban poverty ("I been in town now fifteen year"). The satire gently mocks the idealization of rural/small-town life while acknowledging genuine hardship in city living. **Bottom Cartoon: "Reciprocity of Trade"** Shows street vendors or merchants in what appears to be a reciprocal business arrangement. The dialogue suggests one party offering goods or services with expectation of return favor. This likely satirizes contemporary trade disputes or commercial practices, though the specific political context remains unclear without additional historical reference. Both pieces reflect turn-of-century American working-class experiences and economic anxieties.
# Judge Magazine Satire Analysis This page contains **political commentary and social satire** typical of 1880s-90s American humor. Key references include: **Political jabs**: References to Cleveland (Democratic presidential candidate for 1892), Tammany Hall (NYC political machine), and Iowa's governor "Boies" mock contemporary politics and corruption. **Social commentary**: Quips about Philadelphia wives, Maine's "impure whisky," and actresses mock class pretensions and hypocrisy of the era. **Specific incidents**: The reference to Tim Healy and Mrs. Parnell alludes to Irish political scandal; Balmaceda likely refers to Chilean political turmoil. **The cartoons** satirize: - Upper-class pretension (Chicago tourists demanding "real gold" sunsets in Paris paintings) - Roman mythology (Mars/Vulcan struggling with ill-fitting armor) - Class absurdities (turkeys discussing Thanksgiving) The overall tone is **cynical, irreverent commentary** on politics, society, and human nature—characteristic of Judge's satirical mission targeting the wealthy and politically connected.
