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![The “enfant ter[ri]ble” of Europe](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/LCPP/thumbnails/Puck/29100/LCPP_29147u.jpg)
Several European rulers stand next to signposts labeled “France, Turkey, England, Germany, Italy, Austria, [and] Russia” lining the sides of a dirt road, with “Servia” and “Roumania” in the background. The rulers are all keeping an eye on William II, the German Emperor, as he walks down the road between them.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-10-18
Uncle Sam shakes hands with John Bull who is holding a yacht labeled “Valkyrie.” Between them is the America’s Cup on a pedestal labeled with the names of American yachts and the year they won the Cup, “America 1851, Magic 1870, Columbia 1871, Sappho 1871 [i.e. 1874], Madeleine 1876, Mischief 1881, Puritan 1885, Mayflower 1886, [and] Volu[nteer] 1887.” A ribbon labeled “Vigilant 1893” is tied to the Cup. In the background is a building with a banner that states “Finishing School for Incomplete Yachtsmen.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-10-25
Senators labeled “Stewart, Peffer, Vest, Jones, Teller, [and] Wolcott” are being thrown out of windows in a building labeled “U.S. Senate” by laborers and other citizens. Papers labeled “Anti-Repeal Drivel” and “Obstructionist Nonsense” have been thrown out with them. Caption: What a pity this is only a fancy sketch!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1893-11-01
A police officer holds Oscar L. Baldwin, cashier at the Mechanics’ National Bank in Newark, by the shoulder while Baldwin, using “Speculation Soap Suds,” blows a soap bubble labeled “500,000 Paid in Capital” and “Surplus Fund $400,000” that drips money into a top hat in front of many old men labeled “Bank Director” and investors entering on the right, in the background. At his feet are papers labeled “Cooked Statement.” Puck gestures toward the old men and suggests the police officer consider arresting them as well. Caption: Puck to Representative of the Law–“You have got the thief – now take the men who let him steal the money of the trusting depositors.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1881-11-09
In the lobby of the “U.S. Hotel,” Uncle Sam and Puck sit behind the front desk on the left. At center is Chester Alan Arthur as the “U.S. Hotel Presidential Bouncer” who is clearing the lobby of agitators. Among them are Patrick “Egan,” Johann “Most,” Patrick Joseph “Sheridan,” Justus “Schwab,” and “O’Donovan Rossa,” with Charles “Parnell” standing just outside the door looking in. A notice on the wall states “U.S. Hotel – Rules and Regulations – Guests are Required to Preserve Order – No Bomb-Throwing; No Incendiary Talk; No Communism; No Fenianism.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-03-28
A female figure holds a “Civic Crown” over the head of Peter Cooper. She is also holding a ledger that states “Peter Cooper died April 4th 1883 Age 92.” Among the books and papers at the bottom is one that states “Cooper Union – Science and Art.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-11
In the interior of a large room where the over-sized mantle is labeled “Vanderbilt,” many of the decorations are for sale, as well as clothing displayed on lifeless figures. All items have price tags with value indicated. (The Vanderbilt ball was held on March 26, 1883, the grandest social event of the season.)
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-04
Thomas F. Bayard carries a banner that shows a portrait of Thomas Jefferson and is labeled “Jeffersonian Principles,” with a streamer at top that states “A Government of the People, by the People, for the People.” Attached to the corners of the banner are ribbons that are being pulled in different directions, tearing the banner in the process. At the upper left, a ribbon labeled “Civil Service Reform” is pulled by George H. Pendleton, holding a notice that states “Civil Service Reform will Save the Country.” At bottom left, a ribbon labeled “High Tariff” is pulled by Samuel J. Randall, holding a notice that states “High Tariff benefits the Laborer.” At center is Bayard with a notice in his pocket that states “Let us dodge every question.” On the bottom right, a ribbon labeled “To the Victors belong the Spoils” is held by John Kelly, along with a notice that states “The Spoils Policy is the Safest Policy.” At top right, a ribbon labeled “Free Trade” is pulled by Abram S. Hewitt, holding a notice that states “Free Trade benefits the Laborer.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-04-25
A circus performance is going on under the big top with Uncle Sam as ringmaster for a show with a bucking mule labeled “Tariff Question.” The mule has already thrown one man labeled “Democrat” and is tossing another man labeled “Republican.” In response to Uncle Sam’s question “Who can ride the mule?”, Puck’s Independent New Party figure climbs over the barrier into the ring. On the right, two clowns labeled “W. Reid” and “H. Watterson” glower at each other.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-02
Puck’s Independent Party figure sits on the left next to Puck beneath a sign that states “Independent Road to the White House.” At center, A. M. Clapp, with a cash box labeled “Republican Campaign Fund” and a sheet of paper that states “Permission to Remain in Office,” appears with Green B. Raum, who is holding a box labeled “Absolution” containing papers that state “Indispensable Dispensation,” selling indulgences for absolutions and dispensations to an old woman with a broom labeled “U. S.,” a “U. S. Scrub-Woman,” a “Page,” a “Treasy. Clerk,” and a “U. S. Postman” holding a paper that is a “Guarantee against Decapitation.” In the background, Whitelaw Reid carries a banner that states “The Republican Party is the Party of Salvation,” Thomas Jefferson Brady and Stephen Dorsey carry banners that state “The Republican Party Must Stay No Matter How” and “This is Our Last Chance,” and Powell Clayton drives a wagon carrying a safe labeled “Funds for an Aggressive Campaign.” Also depicted are William Walter Phelps with a paper that states “Its Only a Matter of Money” and Robert Ingersoll holding a paper labeled “Sweet C. O. D.” Caption: In the sixteenth century, Tetzel and his corrupt fellow-priests openly sold absolutions and dispensations, and played upon the fears of the people to fill their coffers, and keep themselves in power and place and shameful luxury. A little later, they were swept under in the cleansing flood of the great reformation. Will the star-route money-leeches please take notice that history repeats itself?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-08-12
Grover Cleveland is pictured as a large tree labeled “Eucalyptus Clevelandus” with roots labeled “Honor” and “Honesty,” and branches that spread over swamp land from which rise gaseous ghosts labeled “Stupidity, K. K. K., Bourbonism, Butlerism, Dynamiter, Kellyism, Ward Bossism, [and] Spoils System.” In the background is a large building labeled “Democratic Head-Quarters.” Caption: The eucalyptus tree has recently been introduced into marshy and malarious regions, where it acts as a purifier of the atmosphere, driving away the deadly miasmatic vapors.–Encyclopaedia.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-08-27
Four men sit quietly beneath a shelf of “Books of Religious Reference” in a hall in a museum. A small crowd is gathered before them. Further along the hall, another group of four men sits quietly beneath a shelf of “Books of Scientific Reference.” Part of the display, labeled “Geography,” shows an owl perched on an open book labeled “Kosmos” and a man standing next to a globe. Further still along the hall, a man is lecturing to a large gathering in a section labeled “Chemistry.” Portraits of Nicolaus Copernicus, Charles Darwin, Benedictus de Spinoza, and Thomas Paine hang from the vaulted archways above.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-10
Columbia sits on a rock on the coast as men bring packages of supplies labeled “From Ohio, Missouri, From New York, [and] California.” Just offshore, men pull on the oars of a rowboat laden with large bundles labeled “For German Sufferers” and “For Germany” and a large money bag. In the background, debris floats on the high waters of devastating floods. Overhead are fair weather clouds labeled “Charity” and dark clouds, which drop more rain, labeled “Suffering [and] Distress.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-01-17
A costume ball is underway. Among the recognizable faces are Jay Gould, William H. Vanderbilt, Ulysses S. Grant, and possibly William W. Phelps. Caption: Mrs. Knickerbocker gives a fancy dress ball, and, following the practice of the English nobility, requests her guests to appear in the costumes worn by their ancestors a hundred years ago.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-07
A richly dressed man stands in the street in a neighborhood of lavish homes, with two large bags of money hanging at his sides, labeled “Profits as Attorney at Law” and “Profits as Claim-Agent.” A smaller bag, labeled “Salary,” hangs at his waist.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-14
John Kelly, dressed as a woman, threatens New York City Mayor Franklin Edson with a stick labeled “N.Y. Board of Aldermen” and points toward jars on a shelf, containing former Mayors Edward Cooper and William R. Grace. Kelly has another stick labeled “N.Y. Legislature” tied behind his back. Caption: New York’s Mistress – “Want a new charter, do you? Take care, or I’ll put you up there with the others!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-21
In the “Grand National Congressional Theatre” the performance of “Fair Promise Combination No. 47 – Great Reform Bill – Act I Tariff Reform – Act II Civil Service Reform – Act III Internal Revenue Reform” is concluding. The audience is pelting the cast with cats, eggs, onions, turnips, and other vegetables and fruits. Among those on stage are David Davis, Thomas W. Ferry, George M. Robeson, Jay A. Hubbell, Frank Hiscock, Horace F. Page, and William Mahone.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-02-28
A streetcar labeled “Republican Protection Line” and “Congress 47” rounds a curve with a crowd of men standing on the rear platform. Among them is the conductor labeled “Keifer” and Frank Hiscock. Uncle Sam, holding a basket with papers labeled “Silver Problem, Pension Reform, Our Navy, Civil Service, [and] Int. Revenue Reform,” stands beside the tracks, shaking his umbrella at the passing car as Keifer tells him to “take the next car.” With Uncle Sam are a young child labeled “Anti-Monopoly” and a young woman holding an infant labeled “Tariff Reform.” The next car on the tracks is labeled “Democratic Puzzle-Line” and “48,” which is being pulled by a tired-looking donkey.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-03-07
Isham G. Harris, Augustus H. Garland, and Joseph E. Johnston, holding hands, complete the circuit of an electrical device operated by a figure labeled “Pan Electric Co.” and “Dr. Rogers.” On the floor at Rogers’ feet are shares of “Pan Electric Co. Stock.” The three men are getting a jolt of electricity that surprises Puck, who is standing on the left, holding his lithographic pencil. A group of men are standing in the background, observing. A wire connected to “Dr. Rogers” runs out a window and connects to the office of the “Bell Telephone Co.” across the street. Caption: Puck – “Dear me! This is really a shocking affair!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1886-02-17
A man, identified as the “Pirate Publisher,” stands at center with one foot on a large book labeled “Law.” He is wearing 17th century court dress, a large hat with four plumes labeled “American, French, German, [and] English,” and a long cape that appears to be made from the title pages of pirated works of literature; and he is carrying two moneybags. Authors from “America, Germany, France, [and] England” form a half-circle behind him, including “Mark Twain, C. D. Warner, G. W. Cable, E. C. Stedman, F. Brete Hart [i.e., Bret Harte], J. Hay, O. W. Holmes, F. R. Stockton, J. G. Whittier, T. B. Aldrich, W. D. Howells, J. R. Lowell, Heyse, Ebers, Scheffel, Zola, Sardou, A. Daudet, Jules Verne, Gilbert, Browning, Burnard, Hughes, Tennyson, [and] W. Collins.” Some hold papers labeled “James Payn, Louis Carroll, Thomas Hardy, [and] R. L. Stevenson.” They are accusing the man of illegally publishing their work without compensating them, while the man maintains that he has a legal right to publish their books. There is a jack-in-the-box labeled “The Hugh Conway Posthumous Producer.” The jack holds a knife in one hand and a gun in the other. Includes choruses “of British Authors…French Victims…German and other Sufferers, [and] Humble American Authors.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1886-02-24