Judge — September 12, 1885 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *Judge* magazine contains satirical illustrations labeled "The Game-Meeting as it Was and as it Is" and "The Judge." The main cartoon appears to contrast past and present depictions of social gatherings or "game meetings." The top illustration shows an elegant, formal Victorian-era scene with well-dressed attendees in ornate surroundings. The bottom illustration depicts a more chaotic, crowded contemporary scene with figures in less formal dress. The satire likely mocks the decline of decorum and civility in social gatherings over time—comparing idealized past behavior to present-day disorder. The ornate architectural details and formal dress in the upper scene contrast sharply with the jumbled composition below, suggesting social deterioration or loss of propriety that would have resonated with *Judge's* educated, upper-class readership. The accompanying smaller illustration on the right remains unclear without additional context.