Judge, 1890-08-02 · page 1 of 20
Judge — August 2, 1890 — page 1: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Summer Butterfly" - Judge Magazine, August 2, 1890 This political cartoon satirizes **General R. A. Alger**, who is depicted as an aspirant for Presidential honors. The image shows Alger with a human head and butterfly wings, surrounded by flowers and plants, representing him as a fragile, showy creature of summer rather than a serious political figure. The accompanying verse mocks his candidacy, suggesting he merely "flits and poises in the air" and lacks substance. The satire implies Alger is an ephemeral, superficial political figure—impressive in appearance but insubstantial and temporary, destined to fade when "winter blasts have intervened." This reflects Judge's skepticism toward Alger's presidential ambitions during the 1890 political season.