A strong tip
Subject(s): Boys--Social life and customs, Conversation, Messengers, Produce trade, Street vendors
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Two boys talk on a busy city sidewalk next to a produce stand. Caption: Messenger — I didn’t do a t’ing but win a dollar an’ t’irty-two cents at craps, las’ night. / Bucket-Shop Office Boy — Put it all on Cotton, Billy, an’ stand fer a raise uv fifteen p’ints – I heerd de boss tellin’ a come-on ter sell short!
Comments and Context
The context of this cartoon is a simple joke that even messenger boys could share in the nation’s prosperity during the early years of the President Roosevelt’s administration.
A specific reference to the times, however, is the job identified with the second boy. The “Bucket Shop” is a term that The New York Times (July 19, 1958) described as “an office with facilities for making bets in the form of orders or options based on current exchange prices of securities or commodities, but without any actual buying or selling of the property.” The term originated in the 1820s and referred to places where taverns would cast aside used beer kegs and people would salvage what they could of the dregs. Its allusion to bottom-of-the-barrel trading activities evolved, and occasionally is a term used today. Stock tips, albeit not high finance, would be exchanged by players.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-04-06
Creator(s)
Gallaway, W. H. (Walter H.), 1870-1911
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
A strong tip. [April 6, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277758. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Gallaway, W. H. (Walter H.), 1870-1911. A strong tip. [6 Apr. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277758.
APA:
Gallaway, W. H. (Walter H.), 1870-1911., [1904, April 6]. A strong tip.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277758.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
