Puck — October 24, 1877 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Puck Page (October 24, 1877) The main cartoon, "Puck's Essential Oil of Congress," depicts a figure (likely representing Congress or a politician) operating what appears to be an oil press or mechanical device. The cartoon satirizes Congress as producing nothing of value—just "essential oil," a useless distillation. The text below discusses Senate members from Louisiana being elected and certificated despite controversy, suggesting congressional dysfunction and corruption. Additional sections address French elections, a malfunctioning machine, and Philadelphia's "modesty" regarding appropriations misuse. The overall message criticizes Congress as ineffective and corrupt, producing only empty rhetoric while important matters languish. The "essential oil" metaphor suggests Congress extracts nothing of substance from its deliberations.