A complete issue · 16 pages · 1878
Puck — October 16, 1878
# "The Turning of the Scale" - October 16, 1878 This political cartoon satirizes the 1878 election prospects, specifically referencing boxing matches between Kelly and Sammy Tilden. The giant scale depicts how political fortunes shift: one side shows "The People Against Grabbing Office Holders" (a critical weight), while the other features a caricatured man (likely a political figure, possibly Kelly) being weighed against Tilden's candidacy. The caption warns Kelly that despite current triumph over Sammy Tilden, his political fortunes will reverse by November—the weight will swing against him. The cartoon mocks electoral volatility and suggests that public sentiment favors anti-corruption politics over established political machines. The cherub at top reinforces the dream-like uncertainty of political outcomes.
# "The Turning of the Scales" - Political Satire This cartoon satirizes **Mister Kelly**, a political figure whose influence is "slowly turning" and declining. The image shows Kelly being weighed on scales against common people ("the Tamanny family"), suggesting his power is being measured and found wanting. The accompanying text mocks Kelly's pretensions to superiority and his control over New York politics through corruption and patronage. The satire suggests that despite Kelly's "stolen account-books" and political manipulation, ordinary citizens are finally gaining power against him. The piece appears critical of **Tammany Hall**-style political machines—the corrupt patronage networks that dominated NYC politics. The joke is that Kelly's scales of influence are "slowly turning," meaning his political dominance is eroding as public resistance grows.
# Analysis of Puck Page 3: "Some Social Friends" This page satirizes **Brother Talmage**, a prominent clergyman (appears to be T. DeWitt Talmage, a famous late-19th-century Brooklyn preacher). The cartoon mocks the contradiction between his public morality and private conduct. The satire focuses on Talmage's visits to casinos and saloons by night while preaching virtue by day. The text ridicules him as a hypocrite—a man who condemns worldly pleasures from the pulpit yet secretly frequents them. The accompanying illustration depicts him as a pompous figure in clerical dress. The piece criticizes how Talmage allegedly raises church funds to $5,000-$12,000 annually while justifying casino visits as "research for sermons," exposing the gap between his preaching and behavior as fundamentally dishonest.
