A Short History of General James Garfield, from the Histories of Generals series (N114) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 1888

This promotional card for Honest Long Cut Smoking and Chewing Tobacco, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century, depicts scenes from the life of General James Garfield. Note the symbolic juxtaposition: a laurel branch with a scroll that reads "Peace," against the depiction of soldiers scaling a fence. The laurel, a classical symbol of victory and honor, extends back to ancient Greece, where victors were crowned with laurel wreaths. Yet here, it's paired with an explicit reference to peace—a plea, perhaps, in the aftermath of Civil War conflict? This pairing evokes a complex interplay between triumph and the longing for concord. The yearning for peace and prosperity echoes throughout history, like the dove of peace, an emblem that has taken flight across centuries and cultures, signifying hope amidst turmoil, a constant desire etched in the collective memory. It is a motif that resurfaces and evolves, reflecting humanity’s persistent, cyclical quest for harmony.