A complete issue · 16 pages · 1907
Judge — November 23, 1907
# "Their Thanksgiving Squash" This November 23, 1907 Judge cover satirizes American politics through an enormous giant head labeled with "B" and "R" (likely representing political figures or parties). The grotesque visage—clearly a caricature—dominates the landscape while small suited men examine it below, suggesting politicians confronting some massive political problem or personality. The caption claims this represents "the biggest ever raised on an American farm," using agricultural language as metaphor. The joke appears to be mocking either an inflated political ego, a massive policy failure, or a prominent political figure's bloated importance. Without clearer identification of the "B" and "R" labels or specific 1907 political context, the exact satirical target remains unclear, though the artwork clearly expresses political ridicule through grotesque exaggeration.
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page contains three distinct satirical pieces: 1. **"This Business of Choosing Public Servants"**: Critiques election aftermath, noting fewer casualties and heads broken than previous years—suggesting elections involved physical violence. References "JUDGE" feeling "Uncle's pulse" on public satisfaction, implying political temperature-taking. 2. **"A Universal Provider"**: Mocks the Post Office's expansion beyond mail delivery into additional services (hot meals, piano delivery). The satire questions why the Post Office shouldn't handle more tasks if it's proven efficient—likely ironic commentary on government overreach. 3. **"Of Making Many Books"**: Proposes the Librarian of Congress as highest-paid public servant, noting book competition is fierce and young authors struggle to publish. The page's overall tone satirizes government services, election violence, and bureaucratic scope.
# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains several distinct pieces of humor rather than a unified political cartoon: 1. **Top cartoon**: Two fashionably dressed women by water discuss being "made of dust" and "common kind"—likely satirizing pretentious social attitudes about class distinctions. 2. **"The Cat—A Heartbreak in One Throb"**: A short story about a man's cat causing domestic conflict when he won't accept his sister, featuring his frustrated pacing and the cat's defiant behavior. This is domestic humor rather than political satire. 3. **"Casting Up Accounts"**: A brief dialogue joke about charging meals for profit and loss. 4. **"See-Saw"**: A longer humorous anecdote by Weary Walker about a woman's repetitive questioning regarding seeing wood, playing on verbal confusion and domestic miscommunication. The page is primarily **light social humor** rather than political commentary, focusing on domestic situations and class pretension typical of Judge's satirical approach.
