Life, 1916-03-16 · page 10 of 44
Life — March 16, 1916 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"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.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
470 Unhyphenated “YJHAT nationality are you?” T asked a foreign-looking man: And he replied, quite proudly, teo: “Ich bin cin goot Ameerigan.” I met another down the street Who answered with a cheerful grin When I my question did repeat: “Be gobs, and Oi'm Amarikin!” To one who loitered near the spot I put the query once again, And here’s the answer that T got: “Aye bane a gude Amerakain.” Still farther on I chanced to sce \ swarthy man who stood alone “Da nationale?” “TL gooda da Amahrigone.” responded he, I met a lonesome-looking guy. “What breed are you?” Tasked him straight. “T hardly know,” he made reply, “My dad was raised in old York State.” IWalter G. Doty War Note HILADELPHIA, February 23rd Yesterday Mr. O. Wister smashed a Washington's Birthday poem on Mr. W. Wilson's head. To-day replies in kind (in verse) begin to appear in the Ledger and other papers, and the car- nage is very distressing. So far as known, Dr. Wilson was not hurt. “THESE HIND LEGS OF MINE CERTAINLY DO BRING ME LUCK” T. PETER: Yes, madam, this is Heaven—with milk and honey blest . New Arrivat: I must consult my diet list. Classified Women CERTAIN variety of these curi- THE ous modern women will tell you PIED-PIPER ; that they like children so much that Partnase oF a they are thinking of adopting one or * HYPHEN Bs g two but that they “ cannot be bother ; with having a man around"; it is much more a usual type, however, that pre- fers a man around but cannot be both- cred with children; quite a proportion have no use for either a man or chil- dren; careful observers claim that there are still left a few women who like both the man and the children comicbooks.com