Life, 1914-06-18 · page 12 of 44
Life — June 18, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine satirizes Irish-English political tensions through a fictional letter exchange. The illustration shows a line of soldiers in military formation, captioned "Ninety-two officers name Ryan resign at once." The satire mocks English attitudes toward Irish independence and identity. The text presents an Irish schoolboy's letter questioning English hypocrisy: England demands Ireland accept British rule while denying Irish self-determination. The writer highlights contradictions—England freed other nations but oppresses Ireland, and criticizes English stereotypes of Irish people. The cartoon illustrates the punchline: when 92 officers with the Irish surname "Ryan" resign simultaneously in protest, it demonstrates the absurdity of English political positions. The satire suggests that even within the British military establishment, Irish identity and nationalist sentiment persist, undercutting English claims to moral authority.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“FB: Letters of a Japanese School-boy Tc Editor “ Life Bulletin” which come On: with it, D** Tt SIR:— While malireering near the al- cohol store ot Hon. Strunsky, Irish salooner, I made considerable Ulster conversation with him for purchase of beer drunk, price 5c. “Irish is now throwing shamrocks & other building material at itself,” I corrugate like an interview. “After 1,000,000 years of complete suffering from chains, bullwhips, famine & other prison hardware Lrin have at lastly turned weeping voice to England who can be kind when not thinking about suffragettes. ‘Lhen uply arose the two Georges (Lloyd and King) and with sudden expression peculiar to Abe Lin- coln they struck away all chain-cuffs from Irish wrists forever. Then why should Ireland get mad about in?” “There are two (2) ways of knock- ing off chains,” snuggest Hon. Strun- sky. “ One way is to file them off with loving graduality. Other way is to knock them with hammers so crudely that Hon. Prisoner is killed before he is free.” “You are talking crosseyed,” 1 narrate. “Tam merely making Erin na Brogue argument,” he renig. “ All Irish are like yogis. They think in colors. Catholic Irish thinks green. Protestant Irish thinks orange-—” “What color do you thinks” I ask to know. “I am Jewish Irish. There- fore I think green with an orange border.” “Could you tell me this complete Trish Question so I could know?” aknowledge courteously. “ Deliciously yes,” he say it. “I am totally ignorant of both sides. There- fore I can talk without anger. Thusly are how it was: “Short time of yore Hon. Jno Red- mond, Irish-speaking patriot, arose How Free Is Ireland ? upward in Parliament and spoke so, ‘Cruel & heartlus England! Perfidious albino!’ he say it, ‘why you spend time & expensive food forceably feed- ing Emaline when fair Hibernia would accept food without a stroggle? Are it not about time you kept some prom- uses? Hon. Gladstone lived to free Ireland and died writing religious books. And yet nothing has been done. Still Erin weeps amidst her broken banshees. Tara’s Hall is now the country home of Hon. Richard Croker, the Harp that Once has been bought by Hon. Pierepont Morgan. Why is? Because of English selfish- ness and downtroddery! What city except Boston is ruled by Ireland to- day? Answer is, None! Are it not disgrace? Therefore I ask it in name of humanity—in this age of antivivi- section, bloodless surgery, peace con- gresses & feminism it would be sweet and gentle act to do the decent thing toward Ireland.’” “What do England say when she hear that speech?” I require emo- tionally. “Ninety-two officers name Ryan resign at once” “She weep considerable,” narrate Hon. Strunsky. “Bernard Shaw and G. K. Chesterton have taught England to be very sentimental. England could not dishregard that peel to humanity. Wherever tea was poured all English- men sobbed, ‘Do the decent thing toward Ireland!’ Pretty soonly that cry was heard by Cabinet where it was setting. ‘What should we do about it?’ require Hon. Asquith, who was there looking puzzled as usual. ‘Do what Hon, Bryan did to Mexico,’ snug- gest Hon. Lloyd Geo. ‘ That are Amer- ican way of saying Nothing,’ snib Hon. Asquith. ‘Call in Hon. Winston Churchill, Number One Lore of Ad- mirality.’ Hon. Churchill stop type- writing novels for Hearst Magazine and approach inside, ‘Winston,’ re- port Hon. Asquith nervely, ‘we have decided to do the decent thing toward Ireland.” Hon. Churchill turn pure pale to his literary eyes. ‘If you are intentionally determined to do that,’ he stotter, ‘thea I shall assemble the entire navy from the Mediterranean and drill all sailors to die like men.’” “How did English army take that happy news?” I next!y require. “Ninety-two officers name Ryan resign at once. The Irish Fusi- leers burned their barracks and went on vacation without leave. Meanwhile Field Marshal Lord Roberts advanced on Ulster, ar- rested the Board of Aldermen and trained his artillery on the Belfast Towel and Napkin Works. Noth- ing has happened so quick since Napoleon.” My mind began walking back- wards. “What did Ulster do when this col- lapsed?” I syndicate. “Hon. Ed Carson, Belfast patriot, rioted. He run everywheres with Paul Revere expression and made war-cry, ‘Let every Irishman who loves the English flag come drill around me!’ 500,000 Ulstermen made uprush to him comicbooks.com