Dragons

A Chinese play is being acted on a small stage with Joseph Gurney Cannon and Nelson W. Aldrich offering two small doll-like figures labeled “Small Dealer” and “Consumer” to a dragon labeled “High Protection” manned by two men labeled “Special Privilege” and “Graft.” J. S. Sherman, John Dalzell, and Sereno E. Payne play musical instruments on the left side of the stage. On the back of the stage is a Buddha icon labeled “Greed.” In the foreground, at the foot of the stage, are Chinese men labeled “Lumber Trust, Paper Trust, Steel Trust, [and] Beef Trust.” On the far right, beneath a sign that states “Box Reserved for Amer. Protective Tariff League,” is a Chinese man labeled “Chas A. Moore” holding a tray with two small figures labeled “First Voter.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-03-10

David B. Hill and Charles F. Crisp lie awake in a bed, suffering the nightmare of a spirit dragon labeled “Third Term.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-10-02

Creator(s)

Taylor, Charles Jay, 1855-1929

A knight labeled “The New Congressman” stands on rocks high in the mountains at the base of a cliff that is protected by a sleeping dragon labeled “Special Privilege.” At the top of the cliff is the U.S. Capitol building.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1908-11-11

A series of 12 panels relate a story about a dragon that is terrorizing a kingdom. The king issues a “proclamation” offering half his kingdom and his daughter’s hand in marriage to any of his knights who can rid the kingdom of the menacing dragon. Several knights do battle with the dragon, but all are killed. Then a man arrives in town who is an “æronaut” and has a large silk bag with him. He requests permission from the king to confront the dragon. The king laughs and considers him a fool, but gives his permission. The “æronaut” tricks the dragon into putting its head in the silk bag, which the man then ties around the dragon’s neck. In a rage, the dragon fills the bag with hot air and floats away from the kingdom. The man and the princess are married and he rules over his half of the kingdom for many years.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-12-14

Creator(s)

Howarth, F. M. (Franklin Morris), 1865-1908

Uncle Sam and a Chinese man are connected by a large firecracker. Caption: Sam and John, “the Siamese twins” of the Fourth of July.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-07-02

Creator(s)

Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933