Judge — October 25, 1902 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

These two cartoons satirize drinking and its social consequences. **"Dutch Courage"** (top): A man attempts to kiss a woman while drunk, claiming he drank gin specifically for "courage" to do so. The joke plays on the phrase "Dutch courage"—alcohol-fueled bravery. The cartoon mocks how drinking was used as an excuse for inappropriate behavior. **"He Was Dead Right"** (bottom): Three men discuss a deceased acquaintance, debating whether he'd have shirked work longer if given alcohol. The dark humor suggests drinking made him unfit for employment—thus his death was "right" because he wouldn't have worked anyway. It's a grim commentary on how alcohol dependency was viewed as both self-destructive and economically wasteful. Both cartoons reflect early-20th-century attitudes toward drinking: as morally questionable, socially disruptive behavior that enabled poor judgment and laziness. The satire targets both the drinker's excuses and society's tolerance of such behavior.