LAST OF THE MOHICANS?

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22663, 18 March 1939, Page 21

LAST OF THE MOHICANS?

Christchurch Still Has a Cigar-Selling

Indian

.. A. you notice that chap standI I ing outside as you came in? He’s been there for years; I knew him well when I was a kid and he hasn’t changed a bit,” said a fellow-patient to me as I sat in a barber's chair the other morning. Later I took a look at the immobile sentinel and discovered a dark carving of a quaint American figure, blankly offering me a box of wooden cigars, and representing one of the last survivors in New Zealand or Australia of that peculiar advertising fraternity, the drug-store Indian. The owner, who is singular in his possession, informed me that not so very long ago a newspaper reporter, engaged by an American film concern, spent several days combing New York and other likely spots for one of these wooden statues. His instructions were to bring back something really fierce in aspect and capable of taking a leading part in the background of a Western movie. His search, so goes the story, brought him to the conclusion that there were only a dozen, at the outside, of these weird and wonderful figures to be found in all the United States, even though not so many years ago every drug-store sported a befeathered but silent salesman outside the main door. Christchurch then, as far as is known, possesses a relic of considerable historic interest. Its personal owner a tobacconist, of Hereford street, who stands the Indian up in dignified fashion when he opens for business in the morning, and pops him safely back into the shop at night. Many a passer-by has stopped to ask the history of this, last of the Mohicans. And from inquiries made it seems that the tree from which the figure was carved must have been from 200 to 300

(specially written for the press.) IBy ERIC BAKER.] years old. This conclusion is arrived at through the observations of wood- ; carvers, who declare that only the very heart of a tree could have been used to secure the perfect facial expression and body contours. Moreover, an old trick has been employed, in that a lathe hole in the : head shows the owner where to pour oil for preservation purposes. As our Indian must stand in the ! blazin*g sun in summer and withstand the nippy frosts of winter, ' and maintain his flawless features without a crack, it is obvious that only the very best of wood could be used in his construction if he was intended to last. Its owner has • had the Indian for 20 years. Time was when every selfrespecting tobacconist had something in the Indian line, as well as a barber’s pole, outside his establishment. Nobody has taken the trouble to record the rise and dei dine of the figures. The Christchurch piece shows unusual delicacy in the cutting of the feathered headdress, the clothing, the notable features, and the general stance, com- , plete with a much heavier weapon ; than a golf club. L Annual Beauty Treatment 1 Once a year this Indian is given r a beauty treatment. He is varl nished, for preservation purposes i mainly, from head to foot, until he ■ shines. Gentlemen —ho have en- - countered him at night are said to - have shuddered and taken the 5 pledge. Others, who were not in ;, such sad condition, have endeav- - cured to take him for a ride for the - sake of a wager, or just as a soui venir. But his very weight stopped all nonsense of that kind. Once, d years ago, he was found lying forf lornly on his side in the gutter, so s the owner decided that when close ing time came, his Indian should i share the warmth and comfort of 3 the house.

Even in daylight, however, this ancient fellow has seen more than a bit of fund. He has been the centre of the “ring-a-ring-a-rosy” game, and has been asked for the “next dance.” Other wayfarers, uncertain of his identity, have added insult to injury by trying to force between his lips a humble copper, believing him to be a penny-in-the-slot machine and ready to provide anything from a melody to a box of matches.

Although to Christchurch people whose ways take them eastwards from the city proper, the Indian is just part of a familiar landscape, he is world-famous, for, when the American fleet was on its last visit to Christchurch, Sitting Bull, or whatever his name is, was photographed from all angles, to appear later in several United States newspapers and magazines.