Puck — June 18, 1879 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: Puck Magazine, June 18, 1879 This satirical cartoon mocks New York City's proposed Fulton Market building project. The central figure appears to be a municipal official or politician (labeled "Board of Aldermen"), depicted as a butcher juggling various concerns while promoting the new market construction. The satire criticizes the Fulton Market building initiative as wasteful or misguided urban planning. The "Board of Aldermen" juggling act suggests municipal incompetence—the aldermen are portrayed as unable to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously. The caption's dialogue between "Treasurer" and "Price" mocks their shallow justification: claiming the building will be "an ornament to the city" while acknowledging citizens' real concerns about fiscal responsibility are merely encouraged through handshakes. The cartoon attacks the disconnect between promised civic benefits and actual taxpayer interests.