Victorian Sleigh Ride Christmas Card with Children & Horses

What strikes a modern viewer first is the sheer velocity of this holiday outing—apparently the best way to convey 'wholesome holiday cheer' is a top-hatted man white-knuckling a whip while two immaculately dressed horses—decked out in teal bell-studded chest straps and festive red-and-gold feather plumes—haul his family across a wintry landscape at what can only be described as legally irresponsible speeds. A woman in a fur-trimmed coat clutches a small child in a pink bonnet like a very fashionable crash-test dummy, while the driver hoists his crop skyward with the unhinged energy of a man who has absolutely no intention of slowing down. Sprinting alongside this entire unhinged operation is a tiny whippet wearing a little blue coat, because apparently the horse plumes weren't already doing enough heavy lifting in the 'deeply unnecessary accessories' department. The ornate scrollwork on the sleigh suggests this family has money; the expression on everyone's face suggests they have absolutely no fun.