Life, 1914-02-05 · page 12 of 44
Life — February 5, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical letter to Life's editor from the perspective of a Japanese schoolboy named Arthur Kickahajama, commenting on American economic hardship during what appears to be a recession or depression era. The cartoon shows Arthur with American children, illustrating his observations about wealth inequality. The satire mocks: 1. **American economic anxiety** – The letter references tariff disputes, factory closures, and financial instability affecting American manufacturers and workers 2. **Ironic reversal** – A Japanese observer lectures Americans about prosperity while Americans struggle economically 3. **Spoiled children as metaphor** – Arthur compares American children's excessive toy consumption to broader financial recklessness, suggesting Americans live beyond their means The humor targets American anxiety about Asian economic competition and domestic financial mismanagement during uncertain economic times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ET RSE Letters of a Japanese School-boy When Will Tariff-Reduced Hard Times Arrive, Please ? To Editor “Life News” who are always mirthful to notice the high cost of Prosperity among the rich, EAR SIR:— ~ Frequent Japanese School-boys of my surroundings is enquiring to know about them Hard Times pre- dicted to arrive by Republican Party when he died recently on operating table after enjoying the removal of his Schedule K. Since then I have been looking day by week for the wreckage of America. Will you kindly tell mem- bers of Japanese Thinking Society what date hard times will be here, so we can feel poor when it are fashion- able to do so? I notate, by reading of considerable newspaper, that manufacturers, trusts, college presidents, railroads, white slav- ers and other protected industries are talking very downfallen about what will elapse. That Oscar-Underwood- row-Wilson emaciated tariff, they say so, must be blamed for every calamity which will unexpectedly pounce down before who knows what. Wall Street -—that very nervous avenue—are get- ing ready to enjoy some more paralysis because New English Woollen Mills are expecting to shut down before dividends are crushed below 183%. Already 4$ suits of clothes is selling at re- duced price of 18$ and seldom can we tell what debautch of bargains will follow, “ What have became of our grand New England stock?” require Boston Trance Crypt turning completely white. “What have became of Minute Men and other patriotism if descendants of our fearless Pillgrim 4 Fathers must now be forced to lose their puritan privilege of charging for drygoods 6 times what they are worth? Shall our noble Institutions, employing millions of Italians and Polish im- migrants at 4$ a week, now cease to be protected by Gov- ernment? Nothing so un-American have happened since Hon. Geo III glued stamps on Parcels Pos Mr Editor, I notice this similar compression of soul everywheres, In national banks all cashiers is dusting their mourning clothes so be ready for funeral when Pros- perity expires away. Yet I ask to know. When will that hearse arrive up? Arthur Kickahajama, missionary boy, have been married considerable years and now has obtained such quantities “He feel very Montessori” of children that he feel quite Montes- sori. So last Wedsday, when he ap- proach up to me with 2-finger signal, I knew he meant twins again. “Shall I be expected to congratu- I require with sad eugenics. “Slight congratulations are ordered in such cases,” he snuggest joyly. “ How can you ever become wealth: I growell, “if you continue multiplying while prosperity continue subtracting?” “I do not notice this arithmatic,” he report. “While you are carelessly amassing children, great financial tumble will hit you before you can look out!” This from me. “Where shall this delicious calmity arrive from?” he ask out. “From Wall Street, where all sins are manufactured,” I narrate. “ That celebrated Money Alley are now threat- ening to make considerable large order of Hard Times unless Congress re- duces Tariff upward with quick speed.” “Togo,” collapse Arthur Kickaha- jama happily like a Y. M. C. A. col- lector, “since I got such quantities of baby in my own family I think I can understand Wall Street better than others, Financiers is like all varieties of spoiled children. More play-toys they got, more peeved they become. At lastly they enjoy asthma of the brain from too much plentiful amusement. They refuse play with common wood-horse, bounce-ball etc, but must reach out for diamond watch, value 682$. Hon. Parent say, *Cannot have, thank you!’ Hon. Baby holla, ‘If I cannot have I shall make child-cry riot and raise an awful scene} “Which are best kindergarten?” I ask it. “To permit baby make wreckage of diamond watch or listen to his weeping-concert?” “Both are good ways to Lnow,” snuggest Arthur. “ But from my papa-knowledge I say a few broken sobs is better than one bursted jewelery. If Hon. Baby are left alone- some to play with his despicable toys, pretty soonly he will gulp down his pain and enjoy common wood-horse and hounce-ball more better than formerly “Thusly it are with Financiers,” Arthur continue onwards. “Because they have been given too expensive toy-play by sweet-hearted Sam-Uncle they imagine they can also reach out for Congress and get it to keep them from crying emo- comicbooks.com