Life, 1913-07-03 · page 17 of 48
Life — July 3, 1913 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is satirical commentary on Japanese-American assimilation and political aspiration, written as a humorous letter from "Sydney Katsu, Jr.," a Japanese Harvard graduate planning to run for Congress on the "Yellow Peril ticket." The humor relies on broken English mimicking a foreign accent—a common (if offensive by modern standards) early-20th-century American comedic device. Sydney's character embodies contradictions: he claims patriotic fervor while admitting ignorance about American history (not knowing if Japanese fought in the Revolutionary War), and he'll invoke "Pat Riotic Ansestors" despite being Japanese. The satire targets both American politics (politicians' hollow patriotic rhetoric) and anxieties about Asian immigration and political participation. The "Yellow Peril" reference confirms this plays on contemporary fears. The piece implicitly questions what "American independence" and citizenship truly mean when defined circularly through patriotic platitudes rather than substantive understanding—a critique applicable to both the character and American political discourse itself.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
—Raasnnaton as ARSIEEVE- Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy These American U. S. Been Completely Independent Since 1776 ? To Editor “Life Magazine” whose intellectual Thumbs are altvays dear friends with Hon. Nose: Dear Sir: I shall tell you some great im- portance for you to know. This are secret, therefore it should not be repeated except in Associated Press. Sydney Katsu, Jr., intellectual Japa- nese of Harvard graduation, are in- tending to run for Congress on Yellow Peril ticket. This will make considerable surprise for all America. “You might never get clected,” I say for frights of tone. “I could worry,” report Hon. Sydney with eyewink, American salute. “Frequently politicians what run for something run into something else. For instancely: Hon. Wm Jenny Bryan race to be President with such earnest legs that he become Sec of State when least expected. By firm-toothed running for Congress I expect to obtain job of work on Street Cleansing Dept.” My mind stood upright, attempting to chew this hard information. “Since joining politics I have became unnaturally patriotic,” peruse Sydney Katsu, Jr., showing star-stripe necktie. “From now forth I am intentional to strike with all the biceps of my soul for this America, land of free and home of bravado. Soonly I shall become very fash- jonable hero for Ladies Homely Journal to print. Oppor- tunity come but one (1) time to life of great mans——” “When shall you expect this Opportunity to arrive up?” I ask to know. “On July 4th date, which are the same time this year as usual,” Sydney report with inflamed vest. “ Morning of that day Japanese Thinking Society will give Free Lemon- ade Barbacue at Fingelstein’s Celtic Park where they will conjoin in happy American sing-song, ‘This County 'Tis for Us’ and I shall be expected to make slight speech welcoming all Japanese to America——" “Will America hear you say it?” I require. lectual reply for Sydney. “My July 4 speech will be full of Webster (both Dan & Noah),” he say forth, “and I shail make following patriotic oratorie: ‘Fellow citizens——" “Fellow citizens of what?” I ask to know. Sydney scrush me with angry eyebrows. “*Fellow Citizens,’ I shall say so,” recroach Sydney, No intel- since our Pat Riotic ansestors fought with considerable bleeds at Battle of Bunko Hill——’” “What you say? Did some Japanese also fight in that Revolutional War?” Surprise by me. “How could I know? I were not there amid that shoot- ing,” corrode Sydney. “Howeverly, in making July 4 speeches it are considered necessary to mention Our Pat Riotic Ansestors and a few 1776 battles. Otherwise it would not seem respectable. I shall tell you some more of that speech I expect to talk. ‘Japanese-American fellow- citizens, I shall say so, ‘as long as star-spangly banner splatters its beams ore this broad real-estate, we should set down anu remember how July 4, 1776, are date when all Americans obtain Independence—’” “Independence from what?” I negotiate cracker voice. “Why should you continually interrup by bursting my thoughts in two?” pronounce Sydney peevly. “Tf this prominent July time are Independence Day, then I earnestly require to know that important enquiry This from me. “From what do it make Americans inde- pendent?” Silences by Sydney. “Do it make them independent from Ice Trust, Base- balling, Tariff Reform and other evils?” I relate. “Not sure,” report Sydney. “ Yet at that hot July date every United Stater consider himself free and equal—” “Equal to which?” are next question I make. “Do it make them equal to rebuking Hon. Carnegie when say Peace with one hand and manufacture battle-steel with the other? Equal to snubbing Hon. Theatrical Syndicates when they continue making musical scandals resembling Vienna? Equal to compelling Hon. Mayor Gaynor to talk less like Mark Anthony and act more like Anthony Com- stock? Equal to reducing high cost of breathing? Equal to telling what Congress are conversing about while they investigate Wealth Trust???" Mr Editor, my brain never looked more perpendicular than when I said this. “They are not equal to those,” fizz Sydney with Gov Seltzer expression. “Then what do it?” I examine. “How could I tell?" snuggest Sydney. “I have not been in politics long enough to know something.” “Few politicians has,” I corrode with scratch voice. Yet I shall tell you this information of knowledge. That annual Bang-Up Ceremony of America would be very nice fireworks for Japanese and other Americans to cele- brate, if they could attach some Independence onto it. If it make them independent of headwaiters, Capt Becker, Newport, Christian Science, Jack Johnson, Supreme Court, with -fire- comicbooks.com