Puck, 1878-05-08 · page 5 of 16
Puck — May 8, 1878 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous nine-panel comic strip rather than political satire. It depicts a domestic comedy involving an Admiral's wife, their son, and a gardener named John Bulk who proposes to a servant. The joke unfolds through escalating romantic complications in a bathtub scene. The narrative follows a love triangle that causes the youth to despair, leading to a comedic rescue sequence involving a sea-dog (sailor) and veterinary intervention. The final panel reveals the Admiral's son is actually an orphan being raised by the family—"Leary" apparently being a mascot or pet name, suggesting the entire romantic drama was ultimately insignificant. The humor relies on physical comedy, mistaken situations, and the absurdist resolution typical of Victorian-era comic strips.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, The wife of Admiral de Groot gives her servant a miniature ship, that the Admiral’s son and heir may amuse himself pending the progress of his morning bith. 4. Overcome by the amorous scene, the youth disap: pears into the bottom of the tub, 7. The young sea-dog is rescued. (The reader will observe a slight variation in the shape of the tub con- sequent upon this proceeding.) PUCK. mentioned servant . But the boat, flags flying and sails set, floats gaily on the surface of the deep. 8, The veterinary surgeon takes pity on the youth, and restores three quarts of water to the tub. Bulb keeps a pnor engagement. STORY OF THE ADMIRAL’S SON. 2. Meanwhile John Bulb, a gardeaer from the adjoin- ing residence, breathes sweet love-proposals to the afore- 3. The lovers become interested, The youth con- tinues his regatta, 6. “The boy,oh where is he ?” inquires the servan Bulb, speechless, with emotion, is about to suggest that the Admiral, having lost his son and heir, is an orphan, when— 9, By reason of this little episode, the Admiral’s son’ cannot bear the sight of boats, even on canvas, ‘The direct cause of his position (which in the above picture is suggestive of O'Leary) is because he has seen a marine- chromo, and wishes to save his life, comicbooks.com