A man stands between two women who wear restricted skirts that reveal their feet; they do not appear to be wearing bustles. He has a shocked expression as they both press leaflets to his chest. The valentine mocks women's involvement in politics and connects it with immodest and flirtatious behavior. Bustles were not in vogue between 1876 and 1883, as they were before and after those years., Text: You talk so much of what you'll do / When women have their proper show; / That for your country, in your zeal, / You would the men caress and feel; / Excuse me, if I here portray / A female politician's way., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The tailor has a cabbage for a head. He irons cloth and sits on a sign that reads " Cabbage, tailor, customers suited & given 'fits' or no sale." His iron, or goose, has a gooseneck handle. Cabbage refers to the cloth leftover after making a garment. This material belonged to the patron, and the valentine mocks tailors for stealing it from their customers. The border features matches, a heart-shaped beet, and cherubs playing tennis and tug o' war. The label on the matchbox reads "Red-headed matches go off easy," and the beet is marked "D.B." [i.e. "dead beat" or "dead beet"]., Text: On cabbage fed, / Blue, white and red, / (What patriots are decked in), / The tailor's goose has no excuse / Its duty for neglecting. / So fed and taught, it surely ought, / Its nest of broadcloth rolled in, / No eggs e'er lay, by night or day / But the heaviest of golden., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Two Zouave Union soldiers run among rifles, pistols, cannons, and cannonballs, one of which is marked rum., Text: Zu-Zu, you made a splendid run, / From Bull-Run fight, to Washington. / By Bully Runners e'er so fleet; / Your feats of legs such wonders/ raised, / That every one has stood amazed. / So, Coward Recreant, Renegade, / Your Valentine I'll not be made., Cf. Valentine 11.49 and Valentine 12.1., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A Union soldier cocks his head. He has long mutton chops and carries a sword., Text: Wherefore with hat cocked on one side defiantly, / Smile so complacent, and swaggering stride, / Passing civilians with scornfulness giantly, / Haunt you the streets in your hairy-faced pride? / Doubtless you think there's a wonderful charm in / Your sword and your spurs and your jaunty chapeau, / But not to kill ladies our heroes are arming, / "Eyes right!" my dear fellow, and charge on the foe., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a soldier spearing a cat with a bayonet. Another cat stands on the doorframe., Text: Oh! what a brave heroic man!! indeed it is pity / No other foe is near to charge, but a ferocious kitty! / Your patriotism you should curb, don't let your fury loose, / Perchance, before the battle's over, you'll meet a poor old goose. / You're very brave in times of peace, with bayonet and gun, / But should you see the foe in front, good gracious, how you'd run., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The barkeeper pours liquor from one glass into another as he stands at a bar. The sender rejects the recipient and suggests that he has no money, intellect, or heart., Text: You dashing, dressy Barkeeper, for a dandy you would pass, / As with your most exquisite grace you handle well you glass; / But your brains are like your liquors, the more they are display'd / The more they show the frothy stuff of which your drink are made. / I know you flourish very gay, and talk like men of spunk, / But when you're dress'd to death, I'd like to peep into your trunk, / For it is my opinion, sir, that, if I should you wed, / I'd find your trunk and pockets both as empty as your head!, Cf. Valentine 13.17., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man ice skates surrounded by a cloud of a smoke from his pipe., Text: 'Twould be a rather serious joke, / And break the heart so fondly thine, / If all your vows should end in SMOKE, / 'Twere made on ice, my Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man leans on a crunch and a walking stick. He wears a hat that says "D.B. Exempt." D.B. stands for "dead beat," a slang term for men who faked injuries or illness to avoid duty., Text: How suddenly, dear sir, you stopped your talk of war and glory, / When you thought a draft was to take place. But it's the same old story; / A dog that's always barking, they say will never bite, / So with one who talks of fighting, he's the last one to go fight. / There's a very apt old saying, and 'twill well apply to you, / That a man can't be a patriot, and be a coward too., "528", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A soldier rides a small horse and holds out his sword. He has white mutton chops and wrinkles. The text suggests that although he can conduct himself in business ("exact a charge"), he is a poor horseman., Text: I see your feet are mighty large, / Your nose is somewhat larger; / And though you can exact a charge / You cannot mind a charger. / Your happy Valentine I ne'er can be, / So from my presence you will please to flee., "512", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a woman with two faces. One has an overbite and closed mouth, and the other has an open mouth. The side with an open mouth makes a gesture with a fist. The text refers to the figure as a polecat [i.e., a skunk]., Text: Now, mother, Double Face, look here. / Upon your likeness, now, my dear, / Janus himself might claim the prise, / For venom, in those goggle eyes. / Base bred, base born, deceitful creature, / There's villainy in every feature: / Go, Polecat, go, thy sight I hate, / Thy visage sour and addled pate., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A Union solider holds a rifle with a bayonet. He has a porcine nose., Text: Mr. Rifleman, but I would be a flat, / If you think that with you I would wed: / Cheeks put out your eyes -- nose turn'd to the skies-- / Like a turnip, my dear, is your head. / One like you is enough for a bed, / So with you I'll never wed., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman wears a coat and a large-skirted gown that make her triangle-shaped. The valentine mocks the hoop skirt trend for the cage-like appearance of crinolines and the dirt the large skirts attracted in the streets., Text: Waddling pyramid you go, / Flounce flouncing in the snow; / Pretty lady do not rage, / When I say you're in a cage, / By a lot of hoops secured -- / Of it, I am well assured. / Head, of course, is left outside, / Bonnet on your back doth ride; / Sweep away the side-walks clean, / Of street sweepers, you're the queen., Cf. Valentine 1.41 and Valentine 8.37., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Image: Full length image of Ellsworth dressed in uniform, standing on a flag, holding a flag in his left hand, and an upraised sword in his right hand. Ellsworth was the first officer to die in the war., Verse 359: Col. Ellsworth, His Last Letter to his Parents., Caption: "Washington, May 23, 1861. My Dear Father and Mother.--The regiment is ordered to move across the river to-night. We have no means of knowing what reception we are to meet with. I am inclined to the opinion that our entrance to the city of Alexandria will be hotly contested, as I am informed a large force have arrived there to-day. Should this happen, my dear parents, it may be my lot to be injured in some manner. Whatever may happen, cherish the consolation that I was engaged in the performance of a sacred duty, and to-night, thinking over the probabilities of to-morrow, and the occurrences of the past. I am perfectly content to accept whatever my fortune may be, confident that He who noteth even the fall of a sparrow, will have some purpose even in the fate of one like me. My darling and ever loved parents, good bye. God bless, protect, and care for you. "Elmer.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
A monkey pushes a cart loaded with bags marked "powder." The valentine suggests that the recipient has more in common with monkeys than humans., Text: You're to the soldiers quite a flunkey, / Beauteous little power monkey; / Should you get killed-- oh heaven forbid it-- / The world would want to know who did it; / For when you die, Gorilla's brother, / Where can we pick up such another?, "524", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Dearest love, do you remember (4 vs. and chor.), Variant: a. Music obtained at Lee and Walker's; publ. Auner (3). T. o. border. 23.1 x 14.8 cm., Variant: aa. Music obtained at Lee & Walker's; adv: See the Songs, - Grafted into the Army, Picket Guard and Rubber Man. T.o. border. 19.8 x 12.7 cm. (cropped), Variant: b. [As above;] publ. Auner (4). A-J border. 24 x 14.5 cm., Variant: c. Words by Cha's Carroll Sawyer; music by Henry Tucker; had of Sawyer and Thompson; publ. De Marsan (3). De Marsan fountain border. 25 x 15 cm., Variant: d. [As above;] [publ.] De Marsan (3). De Marsan kissing cupids border. 25.2 x 16 cm., Variant: e. [As above;] De Marsan military cupid border. 23 x 14 cm., Variant: f. Published by James D. Gay, the celebrated Army Song Publisher, formerly of the Ringgold Artillery of Reading, Pa. Letter paper; blue ink; border with battle scene, Zouave, ships, monument with flag, and figure of Liberty in red, engraved by E. Rogers., Variant: g. Music obtained at Lee and Walker's; publ. Johnson (2); adv: Catalogue of Songs furnished. Double-line border. 17.5 x 9.5 cm., Variant: gh. Music obtained at Lee & Walker's; publ. Johnson (2); advs: Johnson in now Publishing Largest and best selection of Songs, and See Johnson's New Catalogue of Songs. T.o. border. 23.1 x 12.6 cm., Variant: h. Cop: 1862, J. Magee. Letter paper; blue ink; double-line border with two flags and motto "Liberty and Union Forever" in red and blue; bust of Liberty in red and blue. 20.2 x 12.7 cm., Variant: i. Adv: Magnus' Ornamental and Glorious Union Packet. Letter paper; hdpc. Magnus 99, col.; publ. Magnus (1). 21 x 13.2 cm., Variant: j. [As above;] hdpc. Magnus 110, col. 20 x 12.4 cm., Variant: k. [As above;] hdpc. Magnus 135, col.; publ. Magnus (1). 20 x 12 cm. (cropped?), Variant: l. Adv: 500 Illustrated Ballads [publ.] Magnus (2). Letter paper; blue ink; hdpc. Magnus 124, col.; publ. Magnus (1). 20.4 x 12.5 cm., Variant: m. [As above;] hdpc. Magnus 125, col.; publ. Magnus (1). 20.3 x 12.5 cm., Variant: n. [As above;] hdpc. Magnus 126, col.; publ. Magnus (1). 20.5 x 12.5 cm., Variant: o. Sheet no. 781; publ. Partridge (2). T. o. border. 23 x 14.5 cm., Variant: p. Sheet no. 1092; publ. Wrigley (1). Wrigley kissing cupids border. 22.5 x 14 cm., Variant: q. [As above; with BRUCE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY on recto.] 24.3 x 14.7 cm.
The doctor holds a cane in one hand and an umbrella under his other arm. Dangling from his waist is a syringe and a bottle sticks out of his back pocket. He stands before two tombstones, and a skeleton holding a pill bottle dances next to him. Calling him "old Lotion" could refer to the cleansing before medical procedures or to drinking alcoholic beverages. The doctor's cane resembles an enormous pill bottle, and his umbrella resembles an enormous syringe., Text: I very much mistrust, old Lotion, / You're in league with traitor men; / The reason why I've got the notion, / Is -- you more Patriots kill than them., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman bends forward in the Grecian Bend caused by fashionable bustles and restrictive skirts. She holds up her skirt revealing her ankles and petticoats. The Grecian bend style of bustle became popular after 1869., Text: Thou languishing young lady-bird, / Thou Angel quite untainted; / With ruby lips, and well formed hips, / Pray tell me, -- are you painted? / You're uglier than the Gorgon / That frightened folks to stone, / The Grecian Bend don't help you, / So ugly have you grown., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
