Puck — September 24, 1879 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of This Puck Page The main cartoon depicts classical gods (Jupiter, Hebe, and Bacchus) in heaven discussing American politics, titled "BOOM." The deities represent established order responding to political turbulence on Earth below. The right column features "Mr. Michael Angelo Mulhooly on the Political Situation," a satirical character commentary on contemporary politics. Mulhooly discusses various political figures and candidates—notably Kelly (a "boss candidate"), references to Cornell, and critiques of both Democratic and Republican establishments. The satire mocks Irish-American political patronage systems and questions about aristocratic versus democratic principles. The piece ridicules machine politics, political corruption, and the gap between democratic ideals and actual practice. Without specific dates or named candidates visible, the exact election remains unclear, though it appears to critique Gilded Age urban political machines.