Puck — April 2, 1879 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Page 51: "When Lovely Woman" and "Business Troubles" **"When Lovely Woman"** satirizes arguments against women's political participation. An "outrageous old curmudgeon" defends female exclusion from voting by claiming women lack competence in governance. The piece ridicules this position, noting women successfully manage households, businesses, and finances—yet supposedly cannot vote. The satire highlights the hypocrisy: if women can handle complex domestic economies, they're clearly capable of political judgment. **"Business Troubles"** discusses the Purcell Bros. banking failure in Cincinnati. It defends the senior Purcell against blame, attributing the collapse to broader economic forces rather than personal mismanagement. A letter from "J.B. + Purcell" provides his perspective on creditors' concerns. Both pieces advance progressive arguments: women's competence and sympathetic treatment of businessmen facing systemic difficulties.