Judge — April 17, 1909 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Curse of Strong Drink" This is a social-reform comic strip illustrating alcohol's destructive effects on families, a major concern during the temperance movement era. The narrative follows a man's deterioration through drink: 1. He's "in for a bird" (arrested/drunk) 2. He staggers home 3. His wife confronts him about his condition 4. He's shown dead or dying 5. His grieving mother laments his fate 6. The final panel shows the family destroyed: "Thus another home blasted by drink!" The accompanying article "Accounting for the Death Rate" connects excessive mortality in the town to alcohol consumption. The portrait of "Henrietta Crosman in 'Sham'" represents theatrical morality entertainment—performances promoting sobriety that were popular during this period.