Sweeping and dusting

A young boy in uniform and cap labeled “1905” sweeps an office clean of many papers labeled “Yellow Peril 1904, Broken Resolutions, Dave Hill ‘I was a Democrat’ 1904, [and] St. Louis Graft 1904” and a large crown labeled “Imperialism.” Some papers labeled “Tom Taggart, [and] Campaign Oratory 1904” are already in the wastebasket.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Frank Nankivell, Puck‘s Australian-born, Japanese-trained cartoonist, opened the new year of 1905 with traditional New Year Baby in a decidedly contemporary office-boy uniform, the model of efficiency, clearing the floors of old issues, old controversies, and old public figures.

At center, President Roosevelt shows Uncle Sam and Columbia a large plant with flowers showing the members of his cabinet. The surrounding vignettes show a springtime dance of putti, Alton B. Parker shoveling snow at his home in Esopus, an art gallery, Irishmen marching in the rain on Saint Patrick’s Day, a woman cleaning house by sweeping a dust cloud of policemen out the door, and Roosevelt grafting a branch labeled “Indian School Mission,” with blossom of an unidentified bishop of the Catholic Bureau of Indian Missions, onto the “Interior Dept. Tree.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-03-15

A large broom labeled “Election” sweeps up the trash of campaign slogans, signs, and symbols of William Jennings Bryan and William H. Taft.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Consistent with its virtual neutrality during the 1908 election campaign, the traditionally partisan and ferocious political-cartoon magazine made few comments on the election outcome — the election of William H. Taft to the presidency — positive, negative, or even of a balanced middle view, through the end of the year.

“Halley’s Comet” on “The Comets Orbit” brushes the surface of “The Earth” on “The Orbit of the Earth” as they draw near each other. Caption: “Brush yo’ off, Suh? Ain’t gwine t’ be ’round ag’in foh sev’ty-five yeahs!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-05-18

Queen Victoria stands on her throne labeled “England” at the edge of the sea, holding a broom labeled “My Prerogative,” and sweeping against ocean waves labeled “Home Rule” and “Democracy” that show the faces of Charles S. Parnell, William E. Gladstone, and Robert Cecil Salisbury. Her crown is perched on the back of her throne. Caption: A poor old broom against the new flood.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1886-02-10

A woman labeled “Blue Law Enforcement” stands on the shore of the ocean, using a broom labeled “Raids on Gambling Houses” to sweep puddles labeled “Police Graft” and “Gambling House Profits” back into the ocean as a wave labeled “The Tendency of Man to Gamble” rolls toward shore. Caption: Municipal Reformer — I’ll push this ocean back if it takes me a thousand years!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-08-21