Puck, 1879-06-11 · page 5 of 16
Puck — June 11, 1879 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical moral tale about a young woman named Lobelia who juggles two suitors: Mr. Philemon G. Haskins (a political candidate for Supervisor of South Jonsonville Junction) and Mr. M'Guffin. The cartoon depicts her romantic scheming—she secretly promises both men her support while keeping them competing for her favor. The satire targets small-town political corruption and female manipulation. Lobelia plays the candidates against each other, extracting promises and favors through flirtation. The "horsecollar" reference (a type of harness) suggests she's "yoked" or controlling them. The moral warns readers against deception in both romance and politics—ultimately, her schemes backfire when both men discover her duplicity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PUCK. 218 THE YOUNG WOMAN WITH TWO LOVERS AND A HORSECOLLAR, A NEW TALE WITH AN OLD MORAL. This is Mr. Philemon G. Haskins, candidate for But in secret. For she had said to him: “ Phile- Hence they were much horrified when, one day, Supervisor of the town of South Jonesville Junction. mon, though I love you ardently, I have pledged my the step of M'Caffin was heard on the stairway; and Lo- He is driving to see Miss Lobelia Maria Smith, the belle troth to Anaximander M’Gufin, your rival at the polls; belia had only time to hustle the other candidate for of the town, to whom he is engaged; and we must keep quiet until I can taper him off.” Supervisor Into a closet, when M’Guffin entered, with an ex- He said not a word, but slumped down into a Suddenly the M’Guffin arose. ‘can bear it no pression of agony upon his face. “ He has dropped,” chair, and hid his face upon the table. His mien was longer!" he shouted. ‘Oh! Anaximander! shriecked thought Lobelia, ‘to the fact that I am but playing him tragical. “Oh! if I only knew which was going to be Lobelia.“ This day shall end it!” cried M’Guffin, «I until after election.” Supervisor!” meditated Lobelia, will have this dod-binged tooth out.!” Lovely woman is ever a comforter. Lobelia put ‘And the next day Lobelia presented Haskins's And to Haskins she said: “My love, when I hear his feet in a mustard bath, and gave him an inhalation, horse with a long-range-jingling collar and bells, and you approaching, and Ae is here, I'll hang a dish-rag with a dish-rag over his head. Then Mr. Haskins said to M’Guffin: “ Now you'll know when that old fool —_ out the window, to warn you.” slipped from his retirement and went home. Haskins is coming round.” Morat: Make upto a deaf woman, blind in one eye, comicbooks.com