Puck, 1879-02-26 · page 5 of 16
Puck — February 26, 1879 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a caricature of William M.E. (likely a prominent figure of the era, though specific identity is unclear from the text alone). The figure wears a tall top hat and formal dress while carrying a large scroll or document labeled "for your perusal," suggesting he deals in rhetoric or proposals. The small inset shows a cherub saying "I object!"—a visual pun referencing the figure's apparent role as someone who presents arguments or positions that invite criticism. The caption describes a "sophistic rhetorician" skilled at making contradictory arguments seem consistent and at manipulating opponents through clever speech. This satirizes someone known for verbal gymnastics and rhetorical prowess used to obscure truth or advance self-interest.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUCK’S PANTHEON. I. WILLIAM M. E. ! oBsecT! “A sophistical rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination that can at all times command an inter- minable and inconsistent series of arguments to malign his opponents and glorify himself.” comicbooks.com f