Puck, 1878-05-22 · page 5 of 16
Puck — May 22, 1878 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a narrative comic strip satirizing President Woodrow Wilson during a domestic crisis. The story follows Wilson attempting to spend an evening at home when he discovers his house is on fire. Panicked, he swears an oath, grabs a broom and boot jack, and desperately calls his wife. The Italian governess exclaims in exasperation about Wilson's poor housekeeping. Meanwhile, Wilson throws belongings out windows while the governess saves the parrot. A fire marshal arrives as Wilson frantically tosses more items. Finally, Mrs. Wilson reassures him that she rescued the house pets. The satire appears to mock Wilson's perceived incompetence and chaotic management style, using domestic disaster as metaphor for his political fumbling—likely referencing his presidency's early challenges.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Wilson is about to spend his first evening at home, when his attention is called to the fact that the house is on fire, NY 4. Heavens!” exclaims the Italian governess, “you have left your ‘ Forget-me-nots’ behind!” 7. The Italian governess saves her parrot. ‘+It would be a sign of bad luck to lose it.—* Yes,” says Wilson, grabbing a bundle of garments, ‘but you will both be burned in the meanwhile!” _2. He takes an oath to save himself, regardless of his 3. He seizes a broom and a boot-jack and calls to his wife and children. wife to follow with clothes-pin. 5. Meanwhile Mr. Wilson is throwing the locking- _ 6. Mrs. Wilson rescues the house-pets. “ Fool!”” ex. glasses from the window. The boarder from across the claims her flame clad spouse, ‘* they can get away faster Street remonstrates with him, but he exclaims: “They than you.” (Judging from Mrs, Wilson’s gait, we do:not will be burned if I don’t save them.” for an instant doubt it.) 8. “ Hurry up!” says the fire-marshal. Wilson damning _9. By a great effort of heroism he rescues himself from the tailor who makes such beastly non-fitting coats. the flames. «This comes,” he says, * of staying at home fever mind, 1m insured in one of the broken comicbooks.com