This yellow and black wood block print broadside ties England and France's declaration of war against Russia during the Crimean War into a war against high prices in a local dry goods provider. The broadside features an image of the John McRae store with a large crowd of men, women, and children outside. To the left side is a hotel and a train with a banner that reads "NEW GOODS". To the right are covered wagons and livestock. In the forefront of the image are a man with a plow animal and plow and a boy. The man has a word bubble that reads: "What on earth is all this running for, boy? the people seem to be going crazy about something, I guess I'll have to stop ploughing and go and see what's going on. "Oh, dear what can the mater be?". The boy's word bubble replies: "Why, don't you know that McRae's NEW STOCK has just arrived from New York." The text of the broadside reads: "Great Victory! Of the Turks over the Russians. The minions of high prices defeated. War Declared by ENGLAND and FRANCE against RUSSIA! Andy by JOHN McRAE against High Prices. The subscriber thanks his stars that the fighting is all on the other side of the Big Water, and amongst the advocates of enormous profits, and that he has the privilege of enjoying the right, undisturbed, to open, exhibit and sell at the lowest rates his new stock of SPRING & SUMMER GOODS! Consisting in part of Calicoes, Bareges, Lawns, Undersleeves, Chemisettes, Bonnet Trimmings, Laces, Embroideries, Ribbons, Gloves, Insertings, Hosiery, And a fine lot of BONNETS of the latest and most approved styles. FANCY GOODS! Any quantity, impossible to enumerate in detail. Also a large lot of READY MADE CLOTHING! HATS AND CAPS, BOOTS AND SHOES, GROCERIES, HARDWARE, CROCKERY, YANKEE NOTIONS, &c. Together with hundreds of articles too tedious to mention. The stock has been selected with great care, with especial reference to the wants of this section, and purchased at the lowest market prices, ad will be offered at a small advance from cost. Persons at a distance may save a few dimes, and sometimes a few dollars, by coming to Huestisford to purchase Goods. My prices at an average are far beyond competition. CALL AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES. ALL KINDS OF PRODUCE TAKEN IN EXCHANGE FOR GOODS." Huestisford, Dodge Co., May 1854. JOHN McRAE. BAKER, GODWIN, & Co., PRINTERS, 1 SPRUCE STREET. N.Y." |