Punch, or the London Charivari The Christmas Number, 1890

"Punch, or the London Charivari, The Christmas Number, 1890" by Various, is a lighthearted collection of comical pictures and brief stories that show what people thought and cared about in the late 1800s, especially concerning the Christmas season of 1890. Through comical talks between Mr. Punch, a figure representing British humor, and Father Time, the book cleverly pokes fun at the social problems, money issues, and political happenings of the period. First, Mr. Punch meets Father Time, who's writing a huge book of memories. Their fun conversation leads to trips to different planets, beginning with a visit to Saturn, whose realm struggles with disagreement. Mr. Punch's funny and smart comments analyze what's wrong with each planet's culture, like battles between social classes, unfair treatment, and silly politics, using each location as way to view their own society.