Puck — November 12, 1879 — page 18: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a scene from Aesop's Fables featuring a stork and a fox. The stork has caught fish in a pot, and the fox—appearing to be anthropomorphized—is being invited to help itself to the meal. The satire appears to reference political reciprocity or patronage: the caption suggests a powerful figure ("the stork") rewarding a loyal servant ("John") for faithful service. The tableau likely comments on political favors, corrupt bargains, or quid pro quo arrangements common in Gilded Age politics. The specific historical context—which politician or scandal this targets—is unclear without additional publication details. However, the Aesop's Fables framework was commonly used in Puck to critique moral failures in political relationships.