Judge — December 9, 1899 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a two-panel moral satire from 1899 titled "After the First Snow." **Panel 1** depicts a stern-faced deacon (a church official) warning a child against Sunday sledding, claiming it leads to "evil one and misery." **Panel 2** shows the child gleefully sledding down a snowy hill moments later, declaring "Misery loves company, deacon!"—implying the child has dragged the disapproving deacon along into the "sinful" activity. **The satire**: The cartoon mocks rigid religious authority and Sunday observance laws (still enforced in many American communities during this era). The joke critiques adults who impose joyless moral restrictions on children while hypocritically joining in the fun anyway. It suggests the deacon's stern piety is performative and easily abandoned when actual enjoyment is at hand.