Life, 1889-01-24 · page 11 of 16
Life — January 24, 1889 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This *Life* magazine page satirizes **Henry M. Stanley**, the famous explorer/journalist who led a highly publicized 1880s expedition to "rescue" Emin Pasha in Africa. The main article mockingly presents Stanley as a self-serving charlatan exploiting his expedition for publicity. The satire's key point: Stanley claims his real motivation isn't rescuing Emin Pasha but generating advertising for himself. He abandoned his American lecture tour because audiences weren't interested, so he engineered this African expedition as a publicity stunt—referencing P.T. Barnum, history's most famous huckster. The article ridicules Stanley's pretensions by having him casually mention that some of his escorts were cannibalized or enslaved, treating human suffering as inconsequential. The cartoon illustrations and lighter items (the Montreal sugar-trust dinner, the "Satisfactorily Explained" pun about eyeglasses) provide comic relief typical of *Life*'s format. The satire reflects contemporary skepticism about Stanley's true motives and media savvy—he was already famous for sensationalized journalism before this expedition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
> LIFE: ON SECOND THOUGHT. IME flies—and through no fault of hours, But just for instants. I'm Convinced, with all his flying powers, There are no flies on Time. C.F. Lummis. THE TRUTH ABOUT STANLEY. ADELAI, JANUARY 21.—Henry M. Stanley arrived here on his lecture tour early this morning by the Basoko, Khartoum and Northern Railroad, going directly from the station to the Liv- ingston Hotel. Here he was seen by the correspondent of Lire, who called while the distinguished explorer was at breakfast. Mr. Stanley breakfasted in his own apartments, not caring to encounter the other guests of the hotel in the public dining-room. As your correspondent entered the room, Mr. Stanley had con- cluded the cable despatches in the Wadelai Chronicle that an- nounced that the European and American newspapers had denied the rumor contradicting the story denying that he had been captured by Osman Digna, and was eagerly reading the only journal calculated to appease the intellectual cravings of a great mind. He laid the paper down as your representative entered, and, touching the electric button in the edge of his table, asked his visitor what he would take to drink. Mr. Stanley's breakfast consisted of hot-house grapes, a brace of chops with fried potatoes, muffins, and a bit of Spanish mackerel cooked with bacon, with which he consumed a pint of Sauterne, having previously, as he informed your correspondent, whetted the edge of his appetite with a Manhattan cocktail. “*How do you like Africa?” asked the correspondent, when his own absinthe frappe had been brought in. “I am delighted with the country!” said the explorer, enthusi- astically, ‘I have met with the greatest courtesy from your people throughout my entire journey, and, from what I have heard of Wadelai’s reputation for hospitality, I fancy your beautiful metropo- lis will prove not the least attractive of African cities tome. Tobe sure, a few of my escort were eaten at Yambuga, and one or two of my personal friends sold into slavery in the Maboda country, but what would you have? When one is in a strange country, he must put up with its customs.” “It is reported in the European and American newspapers, Mr. Stanley,” said the reporter, ‘that your mission here is the rescue of Emin Bey, and that your lecture tour is only a cover for the real purpose of your visit.” PENING one eye and closing the other, Mr. Stanley removed the fragrant Havana he had just lighted from his lips, and then winked three times! in rapid succession upon your cor- respondent. “4 am sure I can trust you, as a newspaper re- porter, to keep a secret,” he said. ‘‘Emin Bey has nothing to do with my trip. As you may remember, I broke off my lecture tour in America to come to Africa, Why? The American pub- lic was not educated up to me—my lectures were falling flat. I came away to get an advertisement, and, by the soul of%Phineas Taylor Barnum, I am getting one!" 53 ENJOYING THE SPOILS. ITIZEN (0f Montreal): What do all those extra lights in the Windsor Hotel mean, Brown? BROWN (another citizen): The sugar-trust people from New York are having a little dinner. lice Chinese are an industrious people, and yet they have a great deal of idol time. SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED. Pupson (after colliding with a stranger) : BEG PAWDON, 'M SHUAH. HaD MY GLAWS ON, DON’T YE KNOW. ‘But why do you not communicate with your friends, and let them know of your safety ?”” “I will, when I get ready,” said the explorer, with a chuckle, “but not while the newspapers are booming my prospective lecture tour. The announcement of my safety will be first made by my manager, Major Pond, from the pulpit of Plymouth Church.” “What is your opinion of El Mahdi?” asked the correspondent. “I consider him to be one of the most enlightened sovereigns in Africa,” said Mr. Stanley, earnestly. ‘Does he read your paper ?”” Upon being informed that LiFe was the Mahdi’s favorite journal, the explorer continued that one of the principal reasons for his visit to. Afsica was the hope of being able to meet a ruler and gentleman SO. ijinent for his virtue, integrity and scholarly attainments as El ae At this point yesterday’s New York and London newspapers were brought in, the mails having just arrived by the Algeria- Wadelai Pneumatic Tube Line, and your correspondent withdrew comicbooks.com