Puck — April 23, 1879 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts European royalty as targets for anarchist violence. The "dummy plan" caption suggests using practice dummies instead of real assassination attempts—a darkly ironic commentary on late 19th/early 20th-century anarchist attacks on European monarchs. The cartoon shows armed soldiers or anarchists surrounding what appear to be caricatured royal figures (identifiable by crowns and formal dress). The building backdrop and multiple assailants suggest a coordinated political threat. The satire critiques both the vulnerability of Europe's royal establishment and, likely, the perceived absurdity or inevitability of anarchist threats during this period of political instability. The title's bitter humor reflects contemporary anxieties about regicide and political assassination.