Puck, 1877-07-04 · page 16 of 16
Puck — July 4, 1877 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical page critiques American Christian hypocrisy regarding Native Americans. The top cartoon shows religious and political figures conducting a "human sacrifice" ceremony, sarcastically asking "Who shall say that human sacrifices have ceased to be offered?" referencing alleged atrocities at locations like Newport, Saratoga, and Long Branch. The lower panels depict specific scenarios: a hair-dresser performing a "frontier regiment" procedure on a young cadet, and a Christian merchant refusing to help Native Americans while citing business concerns and anti-Semitic stereotypes ("Jews! Ah a Crumb's gen'l'men, I can't abide 'em!"). The satire targets upper-class Americans who profit from or ignore Indian suffering while claiming Christian morality. The caricatures appear to represent generic wealthy merchants and clergy rather than specific identifiable individuals.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Pe ciire “WHO SHALL SAY THAT HUMAN SACRIFICES HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED?" *~ Vine Newport, Saratoca, Lonc BRANCH, ETC., DURING THE SEASON. GIVING THE RED MAN A CHANCE, HAIR-DRESSER (lo young Cadet who hat just been ordered toa frontier regi- THE CHRISTIAN (?) SENTIMENT RAMPANT! ae nent). “Vd better leave this one lock, hadn’t I, sir? You wouldn’t take a mean MEMBER ov THE “Hoo FamtLy.” «Say, ish them Jewsh shtoppin’ 'n thish advantage of the Indians, I'm sure, sir!” tel?” auCLEDS, (opoigeticaly). “Wes; but they're very wealthy, and highly respect —e Memnzn oF “Hoc Famity.” “Make out my bill! I can’t live alongsider Jewsh! Asha Chrish'n gen’I'n’n, I can’t shtand 'em!” i