Puck — September 12, 1877 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Coming Mormon Prophet" — Puck, page 3 This page satirizes **Henry Ward Beecher**, a prominent Brooklyn preacher, through an interview titled "The Coming Mormon Prophet." The cartoon depicts Beecher as a potential Mormon leader, mocking his personal scandals (he faced adultery allegations) by suggesting his polygamous inclinations suit Mormon doctrine. The satire plays on Beecher's public prominence and moral authority contrasted with his private conduct. The piece questions whether someone with Beecher's reputation should lead a religious movement, using Mormonism's actual polygamy practices as the vehicle for ridicule. The accompanying illustration shows exaggerated caricatures typical of 19th-century Puck's visual style, emphasizing grotesque features for comedic effect.