Puck — December 19, 1877 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Puck's Essential Oil of Congress" This page satirizes the U.S. Senate under Senator Conkling's leadership. The cartoon depicts a young boy laboriously grinding/processing something—likely representing the distillation of Senate proceedings into usable "essential oil." The text mocks Conkling for celebrating a minor victory regarding New York Custom House appointments while ignoring larger issues. It criticizes senators for ineffectual debate on significant matters like liquor regulation and Silver currency, suggesting their work produces little of substance. The satire suggests Congress is inefficient and self-serving—senators focus on patronage disputes rather than meaningful legislation. The "essential oil" metaphor implies that extracting anything truly valuable from Senate deliberations requires exhausting effort for minimal results.