Life, 1913-04-17 · page 44 of 52
Life — April 17, 1913 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical story (not a political cartoon) mocking the grandiose historical narratives around "discovery" in America. The humor centers on a Native American chief stationed at West 209th Street who complains that despite his tribe's presence, *they* haven't been "discovered" yet—treating European discovery as the defining moment of existence. When Henry Hudson arrives, the chief approaches him as a committee member eager to facilitate the "discovery," revealing Tammany Hall politics (the corrupt NYC political machine) embedded in indigenous relations. The satire deepens when Hudson casually eats imported cheese while the chief negotiates, suggesting European indifference and the transactional nature of colonial encounters. The joke: discovery narratives erase native presence. The chief ironically accepts that *political control* matters more than who "discovers" the city—a pointed commentary on how indigenous peoples were systematically excluded from power despite being there first. The page itself is mostly advertisements (Heisey glassware, books on marriage/sexology, camera lenses), typical of Life magazine's format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
804 The Discovery of New York Many claims regarding the discovery of various parts of the United States had been previously made. The Cabots had discovered Labrador, the Spaniards the southern part of the United the Norsemen had discovered apolis, and Columbus had discovered n Salvador and gone home to meet a nincty-day note due in Palos for the use of the Pinta, which he had hired by the hour, But we are speaking of the discovery of New York. About this time a solitary horseman might have been seen at West 209th Street, clothed in a little brief authority For the Table The dazzling brilliancy and alluring grace of Heisey’s TRADE MARK together with} its sensible practicability, adds pleasure| as well as re- finement to| table service. Our book shows! a variety of de- signs from which a single piece or a! complete set may be selected. Write for a copy. | cw A. H. Heisey & Co. PIECE — Department 62 Newark, Ohis | and looking out to the west as he petu- lantly spoke in the Tammany dialect, then in the language of the blank-verse Indian, He began, “Another day of anxiety has passed, and yet we have not been discovered! The Great Spirit tells me in the thunder of the surf and the roaring cataract of the Harlem that within a week we will be discovered for the first time.” As he stands there aboard of his horse one sees that he is a chief in every re- spect and in life's great drama would naturally occupy the middle of the stage. It was at this moment that Hudson slippsd down the river from Albany past Fort Lee and, dropping a nickel in the slot at 123th Street, weighed his anchor at that place. As soon as he had landed and discovered the city, he was ap proached by the chief, who said, “We gates! I am one of the committee to show you our little town, I suppose you have a power of attorney, of course, for discovering us?” “Yes,” said Hudson, “As Columbus used to sa i Salvador, ‘I do it by th me by my sovereigns.’ ‘That oversizes my pile by a sovereign and a half,’ says one of the natives; and so, if you have not heard it, there is a good thing for one of your dinner-specches here.” “Very good,” said the chief, as they jogged downtown on a swift Sixth Ave- nue elevated train toward the wigwams on Fourteenth Street, and going at the rate of four miles an hour. “We do not care especially who discovers us, so long as we hold control of the city organiza- tion. How about that, Hank?” “That will be satisfactory,” said Mr. Hudson, taking a package of imported cheese and cating it, so that they could have the car to themselves. SU the I Blige Ife—the pleasant places—the people who have fascinated us — expertences we Utmost in Caretes” Crk Tips or Plain A Happy Marriage Depends largely on a knowl- edge of the whole truth about self and sex and their relation to life and health. bis knowledge does not come intelligently of itself, nor correctly from ordinar} every-day sources. SEXOLOGY (1nstrated) idiam H. Walling. A.M, M.D, imparts In a clear, wholesome way in one volume Knowledge a Knowledge aM. Medical VELOUR PLAYING CARDS ks patented. Four colors each: red, ae. Be. Dealers every, ‘Send for Catalogs In Thrilling Moments_Like This ‘Your camera—your lenses must ont fail you. If wish to unfailingly record incidents in real life not ps: the eye sees tiem oe —bdot as they, | actually happen F ‘4 Goer? Lens tales pictures that are wortn = money, because they show in clearest. Oetail, ‘which the eye itself is not quick enough A Goer Lens Seo gg ones © apa Seer La Our Book on “Lenses and Cameras”? ~ aot = will be gent for the asking >) hae Sree ¥ ae comicbooks.com