Life — March 16, 1916 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 470 **"Unhyphenated" Poem** (by Walter G. Doty): This satirizes the common American question "What nationality are you?" to immigrants. The poem humorously catalogs diverse responses—"goot Ameerican," "Amarigone," "Amahrigone"—mocking both the question itself and immigrants' varied English pronunciations. The satire targets nativist anxiety about hyphenated Americans (German-American, Italian-American, etc.), which was contentious during WWI when foreign loyalties seemed suspect. **War Note**: Reports O. Wister's poem attacking President Wilson being smashed on his head—commentary on literary/political conflict during wartime. **"Piper of Hyphen" illustration**: A cartoon showing chaotic figures, likely satirizing how divisive "hyphenated American" identity was becoming, with the piper representing those stoking discord. **"Classified Women"**: Brief social commentary distinguishing women who want children from those who don't.