Judge — December 1888 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two separate satirical cartoons about social etiquette and miscommunication among the upper classes. **"After the Christmas Party"** depicts women in formal evening wear. Mrs. Pippendorf congratulates Mrs. Tainer on a delightful evening, while Mr. Pippendorf (noted as "a little deaf but always happy") warns the ladies not to spread "scandalously untrue society gossip." The humor lies in the irony that he's cautioning against exactly what they're about to do. **"Misconstrued"** shows a dinner scene where Cousin Pepley misunderstands a request for the "Taylor pudding," interpreting it as permission to gossip about cousin Molly throughout dinner. The joke satirizes how people selectively hear what they want to hear, using miscommunication as a vehicle for social criticism and comedic effect.