Life, 1912-04-25 · page 10 of 44
Life — April 25, 1912 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The main illustration shows a Native American figure (depicted in period-stereotypical style) observing a Black man in formal dress through a window or barrier at the Bronx Zoo, captioned "IN THE BRONX ZOO / THE LAST MEMBERS OF A DYING RACE." This is bitterly satirical commentary on racial exploitation: the cartoon inverts the typical power dynamic, suggesting that both Indigenous peoples and Black Americans were treated as "specimens" for public display and scientific racism. By placing them in reversed positions, the artist critiques the dehumanization embedded in zoos, anthropology, and American society. The accompanying text promotes the "National League for Medical Freedom," opposing government health regulation—a contemporaneous anti-establishment position. The humor piece below about a theatrical star adds lighter satirical commentary on celebrity vanity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IN THE THE LAST MEM Do You Want It? HE movement on foot to establish a National Bureau of Health ns many things. Aside from com- pulsory vaccination, it means the en- into your house by physicians your own selection and the examination of your entire tranc not of official family. The following declaration of prin- ciples of the National League for Medical Freedom may be of interest BRONX ZOO ERS OF A DYING RACE to persons who like to decide certain matters for themselves 1, We oppose the granting of a mo- nopoly of healing practice to any system or systems of healing. 2. We oppose any attempt to take from us our inalienable right to employ in the hour of illness the practician or system of our choice. 3. We oppose the establishment of State medicine as we would oppose the establishment of State religion. 4. While in favor of sanitation and cleanliness in the highest degree, we op- pose the attempted use of these general principles as a cloak for comp medical treatment. s. We oppose the infringement by threatened extension of Federal Bureau: cratic power of the right of a State to regulate and control its own health af fairs. ory ination in fay-r of any school of healing in the selection of Federal, State or municipal officers charged with the administration of sani lary, quarantine or other health regu lations, 6. We oppose disc! 7. We oppose the use of public funds, public schools or other public insti tions for the dissemination of litcrat the advertising of the theories, of th furtherance of the propaganda of particular system of healing. &. We propose to prosecute a paign of education and publicity, only to arrest any further encroachm, upon our right to select the practiciar or system of our choice in the hour of illness, but also to regain the rights that have been taken from us and to estab lish forever the principle of medical freedom, cam: Reflecticns of the Man from Boston Visiting in New York AFF, and the world laffs with you; Larff, and you larff alone! x a The Star: caxxot you ANOTHER PART? Manager: wwat vo you WITH ANOTHER? YOU'RE IN FARTS NOW. GIVE ME WANT EIGHT