American School, Early 20th Century

The Black Valley Railroad was a 19th century Temperance Movement, (see "Spirit of 76, First Centennial report of the Black Valley Railroad" by S.W. Hanks (Boston, Congregational House, 1876—copy in the Rare Book Collection, Boston Public Library).  Hanks refers to these paintings as being rolled up and carried about to various meetings and public events.  The painting graphically depicts trains leaving from the Great Central Station of life through the narrow-way to Heaven in the upper left and through the wide-way to Hell in the lower right.  The way to Hell is, of course, much more vivid, passing a garden of earthly delights and a saloon (see detail on Sothebys.com).