Puck — September 24, 1879 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck cartoon satirizes police conduct and corruption, likely from the early 20th century. The circular mirror illustration at center shows caricatured police officers examining their own reflections—a visual pun on "mirror" and self-examination. The text within the mirror appears to critique various police practices and misconduct. The left side depicts what appears to be confrontational street scenes, possibly showing police interactions with citizens. The overall message suggests Puck is holding up a "mirror" to expose police behavior and hypocrisy—comparing officers' public image to their actual conduct. The satire criticizes law enforcement accountability and suggests police should examine their own actions critically, using the mirror metaphor to demand transparency and self-reflection from authorities.