Firecrackers

Two female drummers play while a young woman bursts from a firecracker. The title “Puck” is formed from firecrackers.

comments and context

Comments and Context

In 1904, the United States was in the midst of its first blush as an expansionist, innovative, prosperous nation, with the previous years’ depression, war, assassination, and labor strife behind it. Automobiles, airplanes, electrification, and motion pictures reflected a vitality in daily life, which in turn, was manifested by the exuberance of America’s popular president, Theodore Roosevelt.

A crowd of people wearing colonial dress gather around an old man who is firing off a cannon during the Fourth of July celebration, 1903.

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Comments and Context

In the first years of the new century, Puck subtly devoted less space and editorial attention to partisan politics, and more to humorous images, decorative covers, and social topics. The magazine was a full decade away from sublimating politics in a major fashion, and that decision might have been motivated by the disinclination to offend roughly have of its potential readership… but in any event the humorous and decorative artwork, and non-political themes, were asserting themselves on Puck‘s covers especially.

Uncle Sam, holding a firecracker, tries to reassure a concerned-looking female figure with wings labeled “Peace” that all the noise she hears is for the celebration of the Fourth of July. Celebrating with Uncle Sam are several figures labeled “Alaska, New York, Texas, Mass., Hawaii, Porto Rico, North, South.” One disgruntled figure labeled “Philippine” is climbing over a wall. An African American is sitting near Uncle Sam. Some are lighting strings of firecrackers, “Texas” is shooting guns, and “Mass.” is firing a cannon in celebration. The “Philippine” climbs over a wall, the only disgruntled child in the group. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background and a dove with olive branch hovers over the figure of “Peace.” Caption: Uncle Sam–It’s all right! There’s no fighting! The noise you hear is just my family celebrating!

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Comments and Context

Since the founding of the United States, its enlargement and expansion of territories was relatively gradual and organic. Texas, Alaska, and even the recent annexation of Hawaii were slow-paced compared to the “population explosion” depicted by Keppler in this cartoon. Puck Magazine consistently approved.

A man labeled “Labor” sits on a huge firecracker labeled “Capital” which he is igniting with a torch labeled “Strikes” giving off fumes labeled “Discontent.” The fuse of the firecracker is labeled “Wages.” There are factory buildings in the background.

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Comments and Context

Despite the factories in the background, Pughe’s cartoon likely was inspired by labor strife and occasional violence in the anthracite coal mines of Pennsylvania at this time. Union organizing, strikes, and labor clashes had been growing for several years, but the scale of the coal strike in 1902, and the prospect of a lack of coal during the upcoming winter months, put this issue on the public’s mind.

The rulers of Germany, France, Austria, Japan, and John Bull, representing England, watch as the ruler of Russia lights the fuse of a large firecracker labeled “China.”

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Comments and Context

At the time of this cartoon’s publication, the daily news carried stories from China about the worst period of the Boxer Rebellion, when European powers, American, and Japanese citizens, businesses, and missionaries were being killed and besieged by aggrieved nationalists.

Yick Nam Quan has sent Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. some firecrackers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-30

President Roosevelt attempts to ride a bucking horse that is startled by firecrackers that Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna let out: “Senator Hoar’s speech” and “Gen Wood’s promotion.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-22

A young boy and a large firecracker are locked into stocks labeled “Safe and Sane 4th” with many dogs and cats dancing around them.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-06-29

Print shows Admiral George Dewey, full-length portrait, facing slightly right, wearing military uniform, holding hat in right hand and sword in left hand, with silhouettes of battleships in the background and firecrackers at his feet, on the occasion of his return to New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-10-04

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

Exploding firecrackers labeled “Land Grafter, Congressman, Financier, Senator, Deliberate & Unqualified, Rail Road Pres., Undesirable Citizen, [and] Nature Faker” have been ignited using a “Teddy Punk” stick. Caption: Every day is Fourth of July with Theodore.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Many cartoonists through the years of Theodore Roosevelt’s life and presidency found inspiration in his many interests, multitude of activities, and ranger of accomplishments. As a true polymath, Roosevelt was a magnet for cartoonists who were amazed, as were average citizens, by the many aspects of their president.