Puck — October 8, 1879 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Puck Page 485 The left cartoon, "Decidedly—More Room Wanted in Our Schools," depicts a cramped schoolroom where an officer tells a headboy that despite having "little fellers," there's "no room" for them. The satire critiques overcrowded American schools—a documented Progressive Era concern about rapid urbanization straining educational infrastructure. "Legs and Lucre" addresses pedestrian culture, mocking how Americans obsessively walk excessive distances for trivial rewards (gambling winnings, sporting bets). It satirizes both the walking craze and what the author sees as wasteful American priorities. The remaining text discusses Bible use in public institutions, arguing inconsistently—some use Bibles as courtroom props while claiming religious separation. This reflects late 19th/early 20th-century American debates over religion's role in public life.