Life, 1916-08-31 · page 11 of 34
Life — August 31, 1916 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece mocks a Japanese farmer ("Uncle Nichi") who has arrived in Europe aboard the steamship *Elephantic*. The cartoon shows him as a stereotypical figure with exaggerated features, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing while appearing bewildered by Western travel. The satire centers on the absurdity of ocean voyage during wartime (context suggests WWI era). The letter humorously catalogs ridiculous maritime incidents: German zeppelins bombing the ship, encounters with Swedish fishermen hunting whales, submarines, and floating grapefruit. The joke plays on cultural clash—a Japanese farmer encountering European warfare and nonsensical maritime chaos—while implicitly mocking the dangers and irrationality of wartime travel. The exaggerated, improbable events escalate the humor throughout.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIEPE: Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy To Editor “Life Humorous Fashion News,” who realize in warfare situ- ation how God is on the water just as well as on the land, ON, MR:— My Uncle Nichi, eminent Japan- ese farmer, arrive to me this morning a.m. from Europe where he been on Steamboat Elephantic and back again to here, “Why should persons go to Europe when they can be scared to death cheaper at Coney Island?” I require with Panama-Pacific expression of boost. “Tam oldy man,” Uncle corrode. “Care of finance, health, wisdom and other nuisances has broke down my enerjy, so Hon, Doctor tell me take long sea voyage for cure me from nervusness.” “You recommend ocean for cure nervus disease?” question for me. “Eminently. There are something about salty water, breeze etc which tring calmness to every soul. Espe- cially in war time, What could be more smoothing to troubled spirit than entire ocean full of rolls where intellectual persons can enjoy seasick- ness with nothing to do but think poetry? J answer nothing!” “Why you choose swiftness of five day boat for such lazy pleasure?” I ask to know. “Obvliously,” he narrate. “Hon. Dr told me take long sea voyage. Hon. Elephantic, eminent ocean specder, left Queenstown, determined to go New York. He arrive in Buenos Aires last Monday night. To nervus persons wishing to spend life on ocean blues, I recommend swift mail ship for that.” “Tell me several things about this pleasure cruise,” I nextly commit. “On Christian date we floated forth while hearing Peace Unearth Goodhell to Man shooting from Krupp guns all over Europe. ‘It are sweet to be re- moved from strife of land, I tell my comfortable soul while laying on deck steaming are first The Pleasures of Ocean Travel “My Uncle Nichi—eminent Japanese farmer” reading David Grayson and thinking about cows. Of suddenly Hon. Capt stopped ship with peeved expression. ‘ Another German mine has tangled it- self with the rudder,’ he narrate, ‘If this happen again I shall report it to Hague. Not only are it nuisance to navigation, but some time one of those mines will blow up and injure our ma- chinery.’ So he got down into ocean and fished away one enlarged iron grapefruit which he gave to lady from Cincinnati as war souvenir.” “Tell me furthermore of this peace- ful sailing,” I manage. “I will give you slight log of voy- age which might be sweet bedtime story for children,” he emblify while bringing amassed literary papers from pocket of kimono. Thusly he read it: “and day out—met five submarines walking under water and pretending they were somewhere else. Goodship Elephantic make escape by waving Swiss flag. Noboby injured except the War Correspondent who fainted from rage because Elephantic were not sunk for Associated Press. “Fourth Day out—Hon. Capt de- cide to back up ship and see Norway until some windy day when airships would be less frequently dropping dy- namite from heaven. “Second week—Backed out of Nor- way in fogs hoping to get to New York by way of North Pole where Germany isn't yet. “3—Saw German navy shooting peevish cannons and surrendered, but on more closer approach was delighted to discover it were merely Swedish fishermen shooting whales. Apologies from Swedes, whales and Capt of Ele- phantic, thusly avoiding international law. “ sth day—Capt of Elephantic decide to reach New York by way of Equator, as war is hell and tropics seem more familiar, “sth day—26 German Zeppelings dropped bombs on Elephantic with usual result—nothing struck steamboat, but 2 old ladies and captain's cat was greatly disturbed while War Corre- spondent committed suicide because he could write nothing to prove that the Menace of the Air would destroy navies. “6th day—While sailing in tropical waters, wildy riot call heard from 4th class passenger dept. All decks manned expecting German spy was there sink- ing everything by booms. Of finally it eventualized that the noise of sound was induced by Irisher gentleman at- tempting to remove all oranges. “toth to 20th day—All passengers living on hope because nothing else to eat. When reaching suburbs of South America wireless message pro- nounce that Brazil were captured by Germany. Too late! We must float to that country or perish wetly in ocean. “2sth day—We arrive up to Buenos Aires flying Belgian flag to show we are hungry and need relief, although we should he shot getting it.” My Uncle Nichi put that water- logged memorandum back in kimono and stand bashly brushing his derby hat. comicbooks.com