The “Press View” at the Candidate Show

by Louis Dalrymple (1895)



Lazy Curator™ sez: Various politicians stand on display to numerous journalists clad in rolls of paper. The journalists include:

Joseph Pulitzer (World)

Charles Anderson Dana (Sun)

Whitelaw Reid (Tribune)

Henry Watterson (Courier-Journal)

[unknown] Chicago Inter-Ocean

Joseph R. Hawley (Hartford Courant)

Murat Halstead

Evan P. Howell

On display:

John James Ingalls & William Alfred Peffer (“We Two Little Candidates From Kansas Also Have Some Good Points”)

Robert E. Pattison (“A Good All Round Candidate, If He Can Get It”)

David Bennet Hill (“Well! Nominate Him and See.”)

James E. Campbell (“A Good Hustler and Hard Worker”)

William Collins Whitney (“Would Make a Handsome and Well-Dressed Candidate”)

William E. Russell (“As the Boy President Would Be a Success”)

Adlai E. Stevenson (“What’s the Matter With Adlai?”)

Levi Parsons Morton (“A Fine Old Gentleman and a Favorite of N.Y.”)

Bobby Todd Lincoln (“There Is a Good Deal in the Name.”)

William B. Allison (“Would Do, and Could Make a Good Impression in the West.”)

Thomas Brackett Reed (“Wants It, and Would Make a Lively Canvass.”)

William McKinley (“A Back-Number, but Could Be Used in an Emergency”)

Benjamin Harrison (“My Friends Say I Am Not a Candidate”)

This scan is another one from Peffer’s scrapbook. Thanks for the collection (and the fabulous beard) Senator!

Happy birthday to Robert Todd Lincoln, whose birthday was on Saturday. Not to speak ill of the dead, but Bobby trying to wear his father’s coat which is far too big for him is kind of symbolic of his entire career, alas.

“Come in, boys, warm up, and have a little Christmas cheer!”

by C. J. Taylor (1894)



The LOC says:

Print shows Columbia welcoming a group of ragged politicians, mostly Democrats, some no longer in office, and newspaper editors, to come in from the cold winter night and warm themselves by the fire and enjoy some "Christmas Cheer" from a large punch bowl, with the many recently elected Republican legislators, mayors, and governors. All are identified by name "Morton, Goff, Strong, Harrison, Dayton, McKinley, McIntyre, Marvil, Upham, Coffin, Reed, Depew, C.A. Dana, D.B. Hill, Springer, Wilson, Bland, Smyth, Grant, Bynum, Waite, [and] McPherson", except William B. Allison.

Lazy Curator™ sez: Happy Holidays to all!

Grand Finale of an Unintentionally Comic Opera

by Joseph Keppler (1893)

Puck.—Now then, look as happy as you can and all sing together!

Lazy Curator™ sez: Image shows Puck conducting a chorus consisting of:

John Wanamaker (wearing a sandwich board reading “Back at the Old Stand—Marvellous Bargains in Everything”)

Whitelaw Reid

Levi Morton (holding a Check Book and a “bar’l” marked with a dollar sign)

Benjamin Harrison (reading from a book on “Lectures in International Law”)

Richard Croker

David Bennett Hill

Edward Murphy

Charles Anderson Dana

Note that, per my accepted nickname, I have no intention of transcribing all the “libretto” to this entry. I couldn’t help but notice that Murphy is nicknamed “Me Too” Murphy here, which must have made Thomas Platt feel extra smug (in the unlikely event that he ever saw this cartoon; I get the feeling he only ever used back numbers of Puck to line his birdcage. After confiscating them from his son, of course.). Also, the reappearance of another running gag: C. A. Dana’s “Spite” knife (the pirate look is really working for him, by the by).

Wondering if I ought to use the “cross dressing” tag. That outfit that Whitelaw Reid is wearing is extremely “mixed media.” I think the N. Y. Tribune is meant to be a skirt, and those cocktail gloves are definitely meant for the ladies.

The Republican Schoolma’am and Her Pupils

by Louis Dalrymple (1895)



The LOC says:

Print shows an elderly woman sitting in a chair on a platform, instructing her students in lessons that have probably been taken from the "Republican Campaign Text Book" sitting on a table on the right, or from the "Republican Press" at her feet; reciting their lessons are pupils identified as "Boutelle, Reid, Reed, Foraker, Harrison, Hoar, Allison, Lodge, McKinley, Sherman," and "Stewart", who is standing on a stool and wearing a dunce cap labeled "Silver Dunce".

Lazy Curator™ sez: Yup, more infantilism, see also this entry and this one. So cute!

Out Again!

by Joseph Keppler (1891)



Lazy Curator™ sez: James Blaine is seen exiting “Dr. Taylor’s” office, a note reading “J. G. BLAINE’S CERTIFICATE of complete Recovery” prominently sticking out of his coat. In the background, Benjamin Harrison and his son Russell look tired and ill.

“In Suspense”

by Joseph Keppler (1891)

Giant Blaine.—To eat or not to eat—that is the question! I suppose I ought to be dieting—but wouldn’t he make a juicy mouthful!

A giant James Blaine keeps a tiny Benjamin Harrison in a cage, frying pan and fork at the ready. Note the bottle of “Retirement Tonic” on the table.

Cleveland’s Entry Into Washington—March 4th, 1885.

by Joseph Keppler (1885)



The LOC says:

Illustration shows Grover Cleveland riding the Democratic donkey past the "Republican R.R.R. Hotel" on the way to his inauguration; he is surrounded by a host of characters that includes many political figures and newspaper editors, including Joseph F. Keppler with his diminutive character Puck. Among those depicted are: Roscoe Conkling, George Edmunds, Augustus Garland, "Hampton", "William H. Barnum", L.Q.C. Lamar, "Grace", "Jones", Joseph Pulitzer, James G. Bennett, Henry B. Ward, Samuel J. Randall, Thomas Hendricks, Abram S. Hewitt, U.S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, "McDonas", Daniel Manning, George W. Curtis, Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel J. Tilden, Thomas F. Bayard (carrying a flag that states "Public Office is a Public Trust. G. Cleveland"), Joseph Medill, William C. Endicott, John Logan, James G. Blaine, Carl Schurz, William F. Vilas, Cox, Winfield Scott Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Watterson, and Hermann "Raster". Also shown is Puck's Independent Party and papers labeled "Compliments of C.A. Dana".

Lazy Curator™ says: I could swear I also see Murat Halstead (who, oddly, looks like Joseph Keppler here, only older and fatter)* and Whitelaw Reid in the crowd, too. And I so wanted to add this to my “Conkling in women’s clothes” tally, but I can’t. Because, strangely, it appears to be Carl Schurz in the dress. Go figure.

Of course, I could just type “General Grant in his undies” here and my usual readership would see nothing else. Perverts.

EDIT: The source of the spoof, for comparison.

EDIT×2: My mistake, that’s Henry Watterson and not Murat Halstead.

EDIT×3: And how did I forget Bernhard Gillam behind Keppler and Puck there?

EDIT×3: The LOC is mistaken. That is Carter Harrison, Sr. (Chicago mayor) at the far right, and not Benjamin Harrison. And I realize it’s like a Where’s Waldo? cartoon, but I can’t find W. C. Endicott anywhere. Actually, it looks like they misidentified Whitelaw Reid (or perhaps Gillam) as him.

A Bigger Man Than Both of Them

by Frederick Opper (1889)



A gigantic Corporal Tanner looms over a sad-looking James G. Blaine, who in turn holds the Presidential Chair—and a typically tiny Benjamin Harrison—in his lap. Puck typically depicted Harrison as tiny (at 5'6", he was the second shortest US president after James Madison), wearing his grandfather’s hat which was too big for him (obvious symbolism). Blaine here is squashing the hat with his index finger.

Puck artists always did a good job of giving Blaine goofy, frequently pathetic facial expressions. I almost feel sorry for him, then I remember he was...a bit of a jackass.