Puck, 1877-03 · page 7 of 16
Puck — March 1877 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This twelve-panel comic strip tells a melodramatic story of conflict between Polly (a woman) and a Poodle, presented as an "emotional drama." The narrative shows: 1. The poodle "resolved on victory or death" 2. Polly initiates conflict ("Let Polly die!") 3. An escalating battle involving ink and writing materials 4. The poodle attacking Polly's literary interests 5. A climactic "rushing bath" punishment 6. Resolution where "dampness chills their noble rage" The satire appears to mock Victorian melodrama conventions—treating a trivial domestic dispute between a woman and pet dog with overwrought theatrical language and grandiose illustrations. It's comedic exaggeration of domestic life as high drama, typical of Puck's humorous approach to everyday situations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUCK POLLY AND THE POODLE. AN EMOTIONAL DRAMA IN TWELVE SCENES. 1. Here Poodle sits, with bated breath, Resolved on victory or death. 2. “Let Polly die!” ‘This was his plan, And softhe bitter strife began. 3. But Polly didn’t think that way, And boldly mingled in the fray. ‘ 4. Here see result of Poodle'’s folly, The first knock-down for Ma’m'selle Polly. 5. The Poodle ‘s in an awful stew, And Polly flies to pastures new. 6. And shows her literary tastes, But hitherward the Poodle hastes; 7. When Polly, deftly, in a wink, Renews the battle with the ink. 8. And both the warriors, waxing wroth, Get mixed up in the table cloth. 'g, But Polly, lighter than her foe, Is first to free herself, and, lol— 10. She flies to the Aquarium, And bids the puzzled Poodle “ come". 11. ‘The latter, rising in his wrath, ‘Treats Polly to a Rushin’ bath. 12, The dampness chills their noble rage, And ends the story of this page. comicbooks.com