A complete issue · 17 pages · 1878
Puck — March 6, 1878
# Analysis of Puck Magazine, March 6, 1878 This satirical cartoon illustrates "The Crime of the 28th of February, 1878"—likely referencing a significant political or criminal incident from that date. The image depicts three menacing figures in period costume standing over a prone body, suggesting either a murder or political assassination depicted as a crime. The title banner asks "What tools these Mortals be!"—a reference to Shakespeare's *The Tempest*, suggesting the perpetrators are mere instruments or puppets rather than autonomous actors. Without additional context identifying the specific historical event, figures, and political figures involved, the precise meaning remains unclear, though the composition indicates Puck was criticizing whoever committed or was responsible for this February 28th incident as morally culpable.
# Analysis of Puck Page (March 1, 1898) This page contains satirical commentary on the **Silver Bill debate in Congress**. The main cartoon criticizes senators laughing about the bill's passage despite its controversial nature regarding currency policy. The satire mocks **wealthy silver mine owners** ("silver men") who profited from the legislation, questioning the morality of laughing while the nation's finances faced serious consequences. The text pointedly asks: can they "laugh" while potentially harming the country? Key figures referenced include **President McKinley** (who vetoed the bill), **Senator Edmunds**, **Senator Whyte**, and other unnamed senators engaged in parliamentary debate. The central complaint is that politicians treated a serious economic measure as a joke rather than addressing its genuine impact on national interests—a classic Puck approach of exposing hypocrisy in governance.
# Analysis of Puck Page 3 This page contains three distinct satirical sections rather than a unified cartoon. "Purkerings" offers brief political commentary on recent events: the Silver Bill's passage, Judge Lynch's role in Western violence, and criticism of Washington Square park conditions. "Defendam" mocks shallow civic prejudices and argues for sympathy toward soldiers, noting their youth and physical strain. "A Fallen Star" appears to be a narrative piece about Ljubobratich, a Serbian insurgent leader, critiquing his decline from prominence and questioning whether he represents genuine patriotism or merely self-interested rebellion. The overall tone suggests Puck's characteristic late-19th-century skepticism toward both political institutions and public figures claiming moral authority.
