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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Their Only Utility
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Their Only Utility

Artifact ID1969.80.125
Date ca. November 1890
Medium Paper, Ink
DimensionsOverall H 13 1/2 in x W 10 1/8 in (34.3 cm x 25.7 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionCartoon removed from November 9, 1890 Puck magazine. Two men (“Ingalls” and “H.W. Blair”) escort a wounded man from the U.S. Capitol building. A boy watches them leave and cries. Ingalls turns back and cries. Blair carries a large bag (“Educational Bill” and “Long Speech”) and a smaller bag (“Dreary Speech”) over his shoulder. Caption: "Their Only Utility.”. Additional text at lower center: “Good figures as Puck ever drew, He hates to bid farewell to you - And yet he stoutly must maintain That Puck’s loss is the country’s gain!”. Additional text across the top: “Puck” “What fools these Mortals be!”. Additional text at upper left: “Vol. XXVIII. - No. 715.”. Additional text at upper center: “New York, November 19, 1890”. Additional text at upper right: “Price, Ten Cents.”. Additional text at upper left: “Keppler & Schwarzmann, Publishers.”. Additional text at upper center: “Copyright, 1890, by Keppler & Schwarzmann.”. Additional text at upper right: “Puck Building, Cor. Houston & Mulberry Sts.”. Additional text at upper center: “Entered at the post office at New York and admitted for transmission through the mails at second-class rates.”. Artist's signature lower left: “Dalrymple.”.
Historical NoteThe Blair Education Bill was a bill proposed by New Hampshire Republican Senator Henry Blair to increase funding of public schools in the south. It continued segregation in schools, but ensured that equal funding would go to the white and Black schools. Blair believed that funding white schools and increasing education would decrease prejudice against Black people and increase civil rights. The bill faced opposition from Southern Democrats and Republicans in other parts of the country who did not want to fund schools in the south.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThis item was given to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum Collection in 1969.
Credit LineGift of Mr. Ralph E. Becker
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
Use Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
Person Referenced Justin Smith Morrill (United States, 1810 - 1898)
Person Referenced Henry W. Blair (United States, 1834 - 1920)
Person Referenced John James Ingalls (United States, 1833 - 1900)
Not on view
Subjects
Place Gifted
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