Puck, 1878-06-05 · page 5 of 16
Puck — June 5, 1878 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical narrative strip following a wealthy man's poodle dog over twenty years. The story mocks the absurdity of aristocratic excess: a dying millionaire leaves his fortune to his dog rather than relatives (panel 1), guards protect the pampered pet (panel 2), and the dog's capricious owner takes revenge on those who displease it (panel 3). The satire escalates through panels showing the spinster drawing a regular "trade-dollar allowance" (panel 7) and culminates in panels 8-9 depicting the notary public's bemused witness to this spectacle and ultimately the dog's death—treating the poodle's life as genuinely consequential. The joke targets wealthy eccentrics who prioritize pets over people and rational inheritance practices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
1, Awealthy millionaire dying, with no relatives to 2, She guards the F.P. diligently, and rescues it from 3. One Tuesday morning one of the friends of the de- quarrel over his property, confides to Jane Wierum, danger and the designs of other dogs. (It will be observed ceased, who expected to be his heir, takes his revenge by spinster, his fortune, charge of his Favorite Poodle, 4. The spinster is counting her weekly allowance of 5. The night which followed was fearful. All effors 6. She visits a ‘Taxidermist who lives close by. He trade-dollars when she the part of the F. P’., consequent upon having swallowed the dog dic?” inquired the spinster. ‘*No! Anidea way rejoicing, (This picture represents her before she a few rocks. ance regularly. ‘A youthful emissary of the Notary tests experience in which the F, P, is concerned. Favorite Poodle. Tableau! 7. For twenty years she draws her trade-dollar allow- 8. The notary public and the aged spinster have an _9, The triumph of the notary public and death of the the vitality of the F. P, AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF A FAVORITE POODLE. on condition that she will take — that the dog in the north-west corner is a wolf.) throwing stones at the F. P, observes a slight eccentricity on to bring the F. P. to life were unavailing, ‘And must stuffs the dog solid fur $3, and the spinster goes on her strikes me, 1 will save him,” * | comicbooks.com