Life, 1927-03-24 · page 33 of 38
Life — March 24, 1927 — page 33: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem satirizes the U.S. government's hypocrisy in policing Native American cultural practices. The setup: a Sioux chief named "Yellow Horse Blanket" is doing the Charleston (a trendy 1920s dance) with a young woman, but when questioned, he admits he's only dancing the "pale-face's dance" out of fear of arrest. The satire's bite: a white government official arrives and shuts down the village's traditional dancing in the name of "morality," claiming the Indian dances are immoral. The poem then lists dances from other cultures—Negro jazz, Scottish Highland dancing, Hawaiian hula, even Greek classical steps—that white society openly enjoys and permits without interference. **The point**: The government condemns Native American cultural expression as "corrupt" while freely adopting and celebrating the same innovations and traditions from other groups. It's naked racial discrimination dressed up as moral concern. The page contrasts this with a travel advertisement, creating ironic juxtaposition between America's celebrated cosmopolitan openness and its actual treatment of indigenous peoples.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aboriginal Sin “Many, Indian tribal dances are considered immoral’’—Weshington (D. C.) news Ow Yellow Horse Blanket, a chief of renown, The pride of a vanishing race, Was doing the Charleston, doing it brown, With pretty young Paint-in-the-Face. “Oh, why do you prance in the pale- face’s dance?” A curious person requested, And the chieftain replied, as he mourn- fully sighed: “Vor fear that I might be arrested.” The little Sioux village was lively and gays For the people were treading a meas- ure; Both the young and the old were devot- ing the day To mad terpsichorean pleasure— ‘Then a white man appeared, with a star on his vest, And spoke with an air of finality: “The Government frowns on your so- ciable zest— Desist, in the name of morality!” We can stand for the dance that the Negro invents, We approve of the fling of the High- lands, We like the cute dances Hawaii presents, And steps from the cannibal islands ; When we do classic steps in the manner of Greece, No officer dare interrupt us, But the poor Indian—watch him, police! Don't let the base redskin corrupt us! —S. kt, in Spokane Spokesman-Review. More Swag “Niantita,” a farmer, who had driven into town with a load of hogs, phoned to his wife, “an automobile load of rob- bers just held up the City Bank, and they're headed out our way now, Don't £0 utdoo “lil have tof? was the frantic reply. “You shirt’s hanging out on the line i sight.” —Country Gentleman, “Story on Page 2" Ax now the life of George Sand is to be resurrected for the inspection, prob- ably. of tabloid readers. However, we agree with Dorothy Parker, who says there is nothing more to live for in the way of headlines since the story of the Nindication of Queen Victoria's Prime Minister was captioned: “Gladstone Not 4 Sheik !"—New York Evening Post. “You know, Bobby, you're not nearly 80 obedient as you used to be. I wonder why that is?” “Well, Mother, if you ask me, I think Present-day fashions may have something to do with it."—Punch, Some weddings are supposed to be quict affairs, but the only really quiet affair in the home is dad’s birthday. —Milwaukee Journal. Temple of Krvomipzu, Kiyoto, Japan Attractive Fares to 5 Orient Ports and return Note these roundtrip fares to the Ortent $600 Yokohama and return. Sail from San Francisco for Honolulu, Yokohama, re- turning to Seattle. Or return to San Francisco via Honolulu. Shanghai and return. Sail from Scat- tle for Yokohama, Kobe and Shanghai, returning from Japan to San Francisco via Hono- lulu. Or return direct from Yokohama to Seattle. $750 Manila and return. Sail from San Fran- cisco for Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila, returning from Japan direct to Seattle. Or return from Japan to San Francisco via Honolulu. Go on palatial President Liners. Decks are spa- cious. Outside rooms with beds, not berths. The cuisine is excellent. A Dollar Liner sails every week from Los Angeles and San Francisco for the Orient and Round the World. Every fortnight from Boston and New York for the Orient via Havana, Panama and California. An American Mail Liner sails every two weeks from Seattle to the Orient. From Naples, Genoa and Marseilles fortnightly sailings of Dollar Liners for Boston and New York. Liberal stopovers of one week, two weeks or longer at any port. A new field for work or play awaits you across the Pacific. Go now. Completeinformation from any steamship or railroad ticketagentor | Dollar Steamship Line American Mail Line Admiral Oriental Line 32Broadway. .. ... . NewYork 112 W.AdamsStreet .. Chi 604 Fifth Ave. and 25 B'way, New York 101 BourseBidg. . Philadel dn crc Dalle Soiding, Sa ene Ct comicbooks.com