Details
Title The Smile that was childlike. [graphic].
Publisher [United States] : [publisher not identified]
Publisher UNITED STATES. 1870
Date [ca. 1870]
Physical Description 1 print : chromolithograph ; sheet 28 x 24 cm (11 x 9.25 in.)
Description Print depicting characters from Bret Harte’s 1870 poem “Plain Language from Truthful James” later reprinted as “The Heathen Chinee.” The narrative of the poem focuses on two white men, Bill Nye and “Truthful James,” and a Chinese man named Ah Sin playing the card game Euchre. Bill and James believe Ah Sin is “childlike” and does not comprehend how to play the game. The print shows Bill and James standing in the left on a dirt road and showing playing cards to Ah Sin, who looks on with his hands in his pockets. Ah Sin is depicted in racist caricature and wears a queue hairstyle, a conical hat, gold hoop earrings, a blue tunic and pants, and cloth, slip-on shoes. In the background are mountains and a partial view of a cabin. Later in the poem’s narrative, Bill cheats playing the game by having cards up his sleeve. When Ah Sin plays a card that James already has, it is discovered that Ah Sin is also cheating with decks of cards hidden in his sleeves. Bill proceeds to fight Ah Sin. Bret Harte’s poem “Plain Language from Truthful James,” satirizing anti-Chinese sentiment, was originally published in the Overland Monthly Magazine in September, 1870. It became widely popular and was reprinted and republished as “The Heathen Chinee” in several illustrated series in pamphlet and loose print form.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred from content.
Print contains registrations marks.
See related: GC-Genre [P.2007.39.24].
Gift of David Doret.
Subject Harte, Bret, 1836-1902. Heathen Chinee.
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902. Plain language from Truthful James.
Chinese -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Card games.
Card players.
Cardsharping.
Ethnic stereotypes.
Immigrants.
Men -- American.
Men -- Chinese.
Playing cards.
Racism in popular culture.
Queue (Hairstyle)
AAPI.
Genre Chromolithographs -- 1860-1870.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| GC-Genre [P.2007.39.23]
Accession number P.2007.39.23