The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-06-25
UNCLE SAM.

In comic art there is no more potent char
acter than the familiar and extraordinary
figure of our hono:ed "Uncle Sam" Every
American acknowledges kinship with him,
but few know how he came into existence.
Even some of the artists who have depicted
him year after year, in his different moods
and attitudes, know nothing of his origin.
After making many interrogatories in re-
gard to him, and considerable research into
his genealogy, l learned that an English
caricaturist created him in derision, long
ago. The intent was to embody all the igno-
rance, egotism, crudeness, pretention and
assertiveness of the saucy young coun-
try in the quaint figure of the
old Yankee. But there was dignity
in the tall, Angular, self-satisfed Old
man which his creator neither meant nor
saw. The people OF the new country saw IL,
however, and took him to their hearts. They
adopted the idea of the beneicent uncle.
and put it into song and story. Then they
accepted him as he was portrayed, thin and
elongated, long haired, hatchet-faced, and
wearing raiment the like of which never was
seen on land or sea-striped pantaloons OF an
economical cut, swallow-tailed coat OF
most Anticipated design, high hat that Is a
challenge to all modern headwear, and vest
Raudier than tropical bird. This became
the familiar figure which, in comic art rep
resented our beloved country. The idea took
definite form; it became fixed in our fancy;
it was a creation destined to live and to
grow. Unc.e Sam became fact reality,
a part of ourselves and our history
He was first made familiar to his people in
Yankee Notions comic paper that flour
l.. ortn Cf n or
but has long since climbed the golden stair.
Mast was the first artist to lift our revered
uncle out of ridicule and contempt, endow
him with proper dignity and make him
distinctive and honored character, though
he claims no credit for it. He says he re-
members him as far back as he can remem-
Der anything in the way OF pictures. The
other artists assert that Mast has made him
what he is-a kind. WISE courageous, quick
vi,ted. sunny spirited, dignified, lovable cd
man. keenly alive to everything affecting the
interests OF his people; in short, gentle
man.
One of the whims of caricature is to make
Uncle Sam fat and jolly when times are
good, and thin and sad ~ Finances Ian
gush. Keppler, of Puck, first made him fat
in the prosperous days of g. One OF Nast's
hits was giving him a swollen silver leg and
one good solid gold leg during the monetary
conference in France and the mining excite
ment in the west some years ago. The silver
leg was equity, and could only be moved by
means of straps and pulleya 1t tied him to
the chair and made an invalid of him, of
course 1t was Mast, too, who represented
him as an eagle
1t is interesting to see how the character
of Uncle Sam" has developed with the
character of his people. One realizes this
by comparing some Of the old portraits OF
him with the more modern. In Nasts ALE
gorical sketches we have seen him In all the
phases of his strong, spirited and noble
character. He has wept with Columbia
over the bier of heroes; he has held fast to
the old flag when it was riddled with shot
and shell; he has turned his gray head aside
in humiliation when public trusts were be-
trayed and honors abused; he has mourned
over his slain sons as they lay in the valleys,
on the hills, and by the rivers of the south:
His keen wit has mercilessly punctured
shams AMI his big heart swelled with
sympathy when the children of his adoption
suffered. Dear, quaint, grand, old Uncle
Sam. may his kind and rugged face ever
beam upon US in love and good will When
he smi Is his people rejoice; when he weeps
or frowns they are sorrowful or hayward.
An eccentric person is our dear cd uncle,
surely. Though he mixes much with states
men and is an honored figure in councils of
the great, he cares more for the society Of his
old pet eagle than for all the fine people of
the ca, tn. And his flag! Nothing under
the sun is SO sacred to him as that With
what pride he uplifts it. How bravely he
stands by it What sublime faith he has in
it. The Fourth of July is the greatest day
of the year to him On that day, l776, h.
was born. He was the babe for whom the
bells were rung; he was the hope of the
men who met and voted for independence;
he was the first free born American child
and he has fulfilled the hopes Of the Poop g