|
|
|
|
|
|
Fables and Myths |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"The Cat's-Paw. - Any Thing to Get Chestnuts" |
|
|
Cartoonist: Thomas Nast |
|
Source: Harper's Weekly |
|
Date:
August 10, 1872, p. 624
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click to see a large version of this cartoon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Complete HarpWeek Explanation:
In this cartoon, Thomas Nast emphasizes Horace
Greeley's control by Tammany Hall, the influential Democratic political machine
in New York City. The cartoonist portrays the presidential candidate as a
"Cat's-Paw"-someone who does the dirty work of another, in this case,
the corrupt Tammany boss, William Tweed. The term originated in the fable of a
monkey who uses a cat's paw to retrieve roasted chestnuts from hot ashes. Here,
Tweed-the-monkey looks on hungrily as he steers Greeley-the-cat's paw toward the
desired "chestnuts" of federal patronage in cabinet departments,
custom houses, and other agencies. On the back of the stove, the "Liberal
War" teakettle lets off steam. A concerned Columbia peers inside through
the window. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|