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Photographs of the library at Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt’s Oyster Bay, New York home. Various animal heads and portraits adorn the walls, including one of Roosevelt’s father, Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1912-1918
President Roosevelt sits in his desk chair on “ye velvet rug” and looks at Richard F. Pettigrew, who holds a paper that reads, “I am an anti-Roosevelt Republican—R. F. Pettigrew.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-30
Two little bears look at a crying mama bear. Caption: Little Bear-rug—”Where’s papa gone to? Won’t we never see him any more?” Mrs. Widow Bear-rug—”Your father, children, has a prominent place in the white-house. We ought to feel very proud of him, and maybe maybe we’ll all go there some day, darlings.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-24
Theodore Roosevelt informs M. Caugi that he does not like to accept presents of value, and that his home does not have room for another rug.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-03
President Roosevelt instructs the State Department to submit a telegram instructing Ambassador John George Alexander Leishman to personally thank the Sultan for the rug.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-27
President Roosevelt accepts the rug and is pleased that his advice helped T. B. Carpenter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-07
Frederick O. Robinson informs Theodore Roosevelt his wholesale taxidermist is attempting to sell several animal skin rugs for a low price. Robinson will put the taxidermist in touch with Roosevelt if he is interested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-15
Hayozoun Hohannes Topakyan is expressing a silk rug, which he hopes William Loeb will like. He is seeing what he can do regarding the rug that President Roosevelt admired. Topakyan adds that when he met Roosevelt he forgot to ask him for a signed photograph and asks if Loeb can pass the request along.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
Taxidermist William W. Hart updates President Roosevelt on the wolf rug. Hart can either replace the broken teeth in the current skull or replace the skull itself with another which he has on hand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-09
William W. Hart asks if President Roosevelt has any game heads or fur rugs that need to be inspected for cleaning, repairing, or moth-proofing purposes. Hart offers to send over a competent man to estimate costs if Roosevelt needs any of these services.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
Postcard showing a large hallway lined with paintings and busts. Charles C. Myers identifies it as one of the galleries in the south wing of the Palace of Versailles. He comments on the gallery’s dimensions and notes that there are paintings of battles scenes of the American Revolutionary War. Myers discusses the art of making the tapestries and rugs also on display in the gallery.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is one of the galleries of the south wing of the palace. This hall is 400 ft long and 45 ft wide, but is divided in the middle by a set of columns. In the far end of the hall is to be seen many rare paintings and battle scenes and many scenes in America during the Revolutionary War. The siege of Yorktown in 1781 is one of the most prominent paintings in the hall. Here in the near end of the hall that which appears to be paintings is very fine tapestries and all amde [sic] by hand, representing battle scenes of the 13th to 16th centuries. The art of making these fine tapestries seems to be a secret kept by a certain sect or class of people and passed on to the next generation. This tapestry work is still done is Paris but is so expensive that few are made for other than Royal families. From across the room you would be willing to take oath that these tapestry pieces were fine paintings.”
“Miss Democracy” lies on a donkey-skin rug before a fireplace in her boudoir or bedroom, as William Jennings Bryan, carrying a bouquet, enters through curtains in the background.
It is hard to imagine a more derisive and dismissive depiction of William Jennings Bryan as an aging lothario; the desirability of the Democratic Party’s nomination (an ugly old maid); or the party itself, shown as a ratty throw-rug. BIt is the political cartoonist’s prerogative to have fun with his art, even at the expense of his own political party.
Bryan, the once and future presidential candidate, was a natural foil for cartoonists; and so too, in this era, was the frustrated Democratic Party. Futility would be its lot in the upcoming election too.