1-150-666 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

Adolphe the Alchemist, 1872. France kneels next to the alchemist, who is producing cash from his brew. Adolphe is Louis Adolphe Thiers, the first President of the Third Republic. This relates to France's unsuccessful war against Prussia. In the background are the ghouls representing communism, Napoleon III and Germany. France had been charged with making a massive payment to Prussia, but the terms demanded by the newly unified Germany were considered harsh. They included an agreement that France pay a war indemnity of some £200 million. However, subscriptions were received in July 1872 of £1,720 million in response to a French Loan campaign. Apparently, Germany was disappointed at the speed with which France was able to raise the funds. From Punch, or the London Charivari, August 3, 1872.