Life, 1886-01-28 · page 7 of 16
Life — January 28, 1886 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 63 The page contains two distinct sections: historical narrative text about early Manhattan settlement and ship-building, accompanied by two ink illustrations labeled "A SACRIFICE TO—" and "THE GREAT SPIRIT." The illustrations appear to depict Native Americans in dramatic poses—one figure leaping or falling, another prostrate on the ground. These sketches likely satirize the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples during Manhattan's colonial development, which the text discusses. Below is a poem titled "TO AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND" and a response letter signed "Fred," discussing marriage, property ("Two Hundred acres"), and rural life—typical genteel social commentary of the era. The cartoons' dark humor critiques the human cost of colonial expansion, contrasting the text's matter-of-fact historical account with visceral imagery of Indigenous suffering.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE - tion that the‘Great Spirit. with whom he was on chummy terms, had left the trousers in his room the night before, but that he would gladly turn them over to Pachamie if he would tell him how he pronounced his name. Thus was the matter amicably settled. It was noticed, however, that the daily receipts of the Coal Hole Depart- ment grew gradually less as time went on, and finally ceased when an Indian policeman fell through the hole, which had been carelessly left open, and dis- covered the wholeband of settlers sleeping off the effects of a largecask of Old Holland consoation. Thenatives became restless aver this discovery and demanded an investigation, but the donation: of several strings of buttons conciliated them for the time. Block's early training as a lawyer taught him many other little technical ways by which it was possible to get ahead of his red’ brothers, and it was not long before he made them sign a con- tract for refitting their navy, using the unburned keel of the 7iger as a basis. The Indians fur- nished the labor and material and Block gave the experience. It is calculated that the Manhattanese got more experience in the year Block was with them than they have been able to shake off since. The vessel was finished early in 1614, and Block, having received the contract price, in- vited the Mayor, Colonel of the 7th How- How’s, and all his own countrymen, to go on her trial trip. A bottle of beer broken over her bow christened her the Restless, and employing all the gains of the season in the new land, with many valuables taken by mistake as ballast, the sails were set and the trip began in the direction of the Long Island Sound. At a convenient distance from shore the Mayor and Colonel unaccountably fell overboard and Block continued his way until he reached Cape Cod, where, meeting Captain Christiansen, he swapped vessels with him—not finding it con- venient to return to New York just then—and sailed for home. So ended the first foreign settlement of Manhattan Island, and the Comptroller of the Wampum, in his annual report THE GREAT SPIRIT. announced a large deficit in the finances of the Island to be covered by one coal hole, one year’s civilization, and ten barrels of glass buttons overlooked in the haste of departure. TO AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND. DEAR HUGH: N glancing o’er a file Of Western news of recent date, I stopped and rubbed my eyes awhile, At meeting—“ Sale of an Estate; Two Hundred acres, meadow land, For grazing purposes, and sold To H. A. Atkins, junior,”—and My thoughts strayed backward, uncontrolled, To your old room at Cambridge, where We two discussed each “ how” and “‘isness,” Dissected Rousseau, flayed Voltaire— (And now you ‘re in the cattle business !) You ‘re married, too ;—and how is she ?— My hopes were—once,—but never mind them ! She made her choice,—it was not me ;— Regrets true cynics cast behind them. Vale et macte, boy ;—eheu ! “T is true indeed, “/abuntur anni" / Your household numbers more than two. I ve sent a silver mug for Fanny. Forgive this incoherent scrawl, Dictated moré. by heart than head. Best wishes to you, one—and all, *Good-bye—meanwhile, Yours truly, Fred, comicbooks.com