Life, 1915-01-07 · page 12 of 44
Life — January 7, 1915 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a satirical letter to *Life* magazine's editor about Japanese immigration and employment. The illustration shows a caricatured Japanese figure in traditional dress alongside modern Western elements—likely mocking the contrast between Japan's traditional image and its economic ambitions in America. The letter satirizes a wealthy Japanese businessman's attempt to hire himself as a poor worker, exploiting America's economic desperation during what appears to be a recession or depression. The joke centers on millionaires pretending poverty to secure employment, while the broader satire critiques both Japanese economic penetration into America and the desperation of unemployed Americans willing to work for anyone, regardless of authenticity. The ethnic caricature reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward Japanese immigrants.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“I TRESE* Letters of a Japanese School-boy The Increase of Poverty Among Millionaires “Still with firm-toothed stubborn- ness I seeked work”. To Editor “ Life News” who are like Wall Street, always there with bright quotations whatever explodes, EAR SIR: Quite recently of yore I read in news-print advertisement of following characteristic: WANTED—Japanese School-boy willing to milk cow, wash dish, chop wood, be butler and take place of 12 servants. If sifficiently brave, apply J. Stuyvesant Van. Gilder (million- aire) Frocksedo Park. So I do so by going there on next R R and arrive to station where was, This Frocksedo Park are entirely swollen neighborhood of tense nobility containing great expense everywheres to resemble aristocracy. While I was idly doing nothing on platform I could observe considerable ottomobiles loaf- ing around station. On each one was sign FOR SALE. in letters similar to that. One especially conceited locomotor car was there containing delicious brass all over him and swollen engi- nery in his chest. I was most sur- prised to look at that otto because he wore following pronouncement on him: FOR SALE $30 Down $1 Monthly till payed for. Of suddenly one very groomly chauffeur emerged forth and walked in his uniform to where Hon. Car was there. He amount up to seat, grabb wheel, jiggle gasolene and were about to depart off when I signal him with polite thumbs. “Hon. Dearsir,” this from me, “you please tell me what millionaire you are chauffing for?” “For Hon. J. Stuyvesant Van Gil- der.” This from him with prides, “So fortunate!" This from me with humility. “I am going to there. It are a sweethearted thing for serv- ants to become acquainted when they meet. Therefore I tell you my name, I am Togo.” No intellectual response from him while driving his locomotor, so I say furthermore, “Relate me your name, if conven- ient.” “I am J. Stuyvesant Van Gilder,” he pronounce distinctually. “Ol” [ shock. “That are name of Hon. Million $ Man I work for.” “T are one (1) and the same,” he narrate. “Increase of poverty among the rich have made me what I am When brokerage broke completely in Wall Street it became fashionable for millionaires to be poor. I have been rich since infancy of birth and this is the only cheap fashion I ever met. As soonly as German siege guns struck Wall Street I was drove out of my immodest offices there and went forthly in seek of employment. At firstly I attemped to get job of bookkeep, but could not do so, thank you, because my books were never sifficiently straight to please Interstate Commerce Commission. Nextly I applied for employ as brakeman on the N G & C QD RR of which I am owner, but could not do that, thank you, because I have always been famus in financial circles as a train wrecker. Still with firmtoothed stubbornness I secked for work——” “Tt are always charatable for mil- lionaires to find work for the poor,” I acknudge. “Nextly I became real estate agent and tryed sell my 1,00000000$ palace for the price of the brick, but was seriously disgusted to find no demand for bricks because no buildings was building. Deep glump enjoyed by me. One darkish morning I obtained bright idea which filled me with sun- shine. I would commit hara-kari for 1,000,000 life insurance which I had and could thusly die rich. But alast! My happiness was provoked to find that Hon. Insurance Co refuse to pay death-rewards until after Stock Ex- change open himself again.” “There would be no enjoyment in death under such candition,” I snug- gest baffably. “What to do? Glumly I thought this reflection until I observed Hon. Ottomobile eating his head off in barn. I would employ myself as chauffeur! Brightness again emerged to my life, for I could easily live on that 2s$ weekly which I pay myself for honest employ amidst gasoline. So I do this continuously working with tense egger- ness, oiling wheels, taking .wife & child for shop, meeting myself at trains when I arrive back from New York and other etceteras” “Are not New York full of idle luxury?” I ask to know. comichooks.gqom