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A complete, restored issue of Judge from 1894-04-28 — all 18 pages of color political cartoons and topical humor, free to page through at comicbooks.com.

On the cover: # "Having a Monkey of a Time" This Judge magazine cover from April 28, 1894 depicts a monkey dressed in human clothing balanced on a pole, with the caption: "Poor Polly—'Gracious! Papa Wilson won't know me when I get back to the house.'" The cartoon appears to satirize someone named Wilson—likely a public figure of that era—through the monkey caricature. The joke suggests Wilson's absence or neglect has allowed "Polly" (possibly his wife or family member) to behave wildly or misbehave ("having a monkey of a time"), with comedic concern about Wilson's reaction upon his return. The anthropomorphized monkey in gentleman's attire was a common satirical device of the 1890s for mocking social pretension or behavioral excess among the wealthy or politically connected.

🖼️ Every page has a plain-English note on what you’re looking at — the figures, the references, the point of the satire.

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A complete issue · 18 pages · 1894

Judge — April 28, 1894

1894-04-28 · Free to read

Judge — April 28, 1894 — page 1
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# "Having a Monkey of a Time" This Judge magazine cover from April 28, 1894 depicts a monkey dressed in human clothing balanced on a pole, with the caption: "Poor Polly—'Gracious! Papa Wilson won't know me when I get back to the house.'" The cartoon appears to satirize someone named Wilson—likely a public figure of that era—through the monkey caricature. The joke suggests Wilson's absence or neglect has allowed "Polly" (possibly his wife or family member) to behave wildly or misbehave ("having a monkey of a time"), with comedic concern about Wilson's reaction upon his return. The anthropomorphized monkey in gentleman's attire was a common satirical device of the 1890s for mocking social pretension or behavioral excess among the wealthy or politically connected.

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