Puck — April 1877 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon mocks New York's response to a contemporary crisis. The central figure labeled "The Oracle" (appearing as a priestess or fortune-teller) is being consulted by personified figures representing New York and other entities about a serious problem: "What shall I do with them?" The Oracle's darkly humorous response—"Hang a mill-stone about their neck, and cast them into the sea"—references a biblical punishment, suggesting an extreme solution to whatever group or problem New York faced in 1877. The specific crisis is unclear from this image alone, but given the 1877 date and Puck's satirical nature, it likely comments on a contemporary political or social scandal where authorities seemed incompetent or the public demanded severe action. The allegorical format was typical of Puck's social commentary.