Judge — January 6, 1883 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page shows "The Old, Old Story" — a recurring January theme about broken New Year's resolutions. The top panel (January 1: "Good Resolutions") depicts a man making earnest pledges, surrounded by symbolic items suggesting reform: abstinence from alcohol and tobacco. The middle panel (January 18: "Sorely Tempted") shows him passing a wine room and cigar shop, resisting temptation. The bottom panel (January 31: "Fallen From Grace") reveals the inevitable outcome: the man now sits gambling and drinking with companions in what appears to be a bar, having abandoned all his resolutions. The satire mocks the predictable failure of January resolutions and human weakness regarding self-improvement — a timeless joke that remains relevant today. The cartoon format effectively contrasts idealistic intentions with inevitable reality.