Puck — December 24, 1879 — page 16: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Puck cartoon depicts a large figure (appearing to represent a political leader or public figure) outside the White House during winter, surrounded by smaller figures with tools and weapons. The caption reads: "Your man of snow is big to-day, Uncle; Under summer's sun he'll melt away." The satire uses a snowman as metaphor—suggesting the figure's power or popularity is temporary and will diminish. The smaller figures around him appear to be workers or soldiers, possibly representing political supporters or government officials. Without being able to definitively identify the large figure or determine the exact date, the cartoon's message is clear: it mocks someone's current prominence as ephemeral, destined to collapse when circumstances change (symbolized by warmer weather melting snow).