Puck — February 19, 1879 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Puck Magazine Page (February 19, 1879) The main cartoon depicts an allegorical scene mocking the legal profession. A small figure (likely representing "Justice" or an honest person) confronts a large bearded man labeled "Pettifogging L.L.D." (a lawyer with questionable ethics). The figure carries a flag reading "Truth" while standing atop law books, suggesting an attempt to expose dishonest legal practices. The caption "Diogenes' Luck Discovers an Honest Lawyer" is satirical—referencing Diogenes' famous search for an honest man, implying honest lawyers are equally rare or impossible to find. The surrounding advertisements (divorce services, L.L.D. degrees requiring "no knowledge of Greek or Latin") reinforce the satire by highlighting actual contemporary legal abuses: easy credential-obtaining and divorce mill services that exploited customers without requiring genuine expertise.