Judge — January 7, 1882 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes the tradition of New Year's social calls—formal visits made on January 1st. The storefront bears a sign reading "SPECIAL NOTICE: OPEN ONLY ONE DAY IN THE YEAR," suggesting this establishment (likely a bar or refreshment parlor) capitalizes on the annual custom. The scene depicts well-dressed men in formal attire making obligatory New Year's visits to women, who serve drinks and refreshments. The satire targets the artificiality and commercial exploitation of this social ritual—the business operates solely to service these obligatory calls, and participants engage in the formalized but insincere social performance. The cartoon mocks both the hollow nature of the tradition itself and how businesses profited from it.