Presidential Muddle Puzzle
date: label: associated date
content: 1894
notes: label: Description
content: A variation on peg solitaire, this Presidential Muddle, patented in 1894, modeled its rules on electoral college voting in order to determine a winner. The faded pegs on this muddle were originally black and red as described on the reverse side.
label: Description
content: This inexpensive metal game was enthusiastically advertised in The American Stationer, February 20, 1896: "All the world and his wife are interested in The Presidential Muddle. We know of nothing that life has to offer which is so entertaining, so satisfying as this puzzle. It is a happiness which postpones all other amusements, and makes theatres, concert halls and ballrooms cheap enjoyment. By playing it the Sabbath is kept holy and the asylums of the inebriates empty. What songs and sermons are to the ear, books to the fond reader, the sight of land to the mariner, freedom to the prisoner, furlough to the soldier, the comfort of a happy home to the workman, a cheering welcome to the friendless, the Presidential Puzzler is to the eye, heart and mind of every individual throughout the world. If your dealer has not got it send 10c to Presidential Muzzle Puzzle Department."
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: general subject association
content: Political Campaigns
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, Campaign Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
label: See more items in
content: American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: The Ralph E Becker Collection of Political Americana
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PL.227739.1894.X01
label: catalog number
content: 227739.1894.X01
label: accession number
content: 227739
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Game
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (markers (7) material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 2 in x 6 1/2 in x 1/4 in; 5.08 cm x 16.51 cm x .635 cm