Life, 1921-01-13 · page 26 of 36
Life — January 13, 1921 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece by Wallace Irwin mocks both Irish independence activism and naive Japanese sympathizers. A Japanese schoolboy writes to *Life* magazine with absurdly ignorant questions about Ireland—asking if Dublin will remain Ireland's capital "as usual" in New York, or whether America needs "self-determination" from Irish rule. The joke is twofold: the letter writer uses broken English and logical absurdities to lampoon Japanese interest in Irish freedom while simultaneously ridiculing Irish separatists' rhetoric. His cousin Nogi parrots Sinn Féin propaganda about British "brutality," equating thirteen dead English soldiers with Ireland's freedom—nonsensical logic presented as passionate politics. The accompanying cartoons show caricatured violence, emphasizing how the satire targets both groups as absurdly extreme. Irwin suggests that Irish independence advocates and foreign admirers alike are propagandists spouting emotional slogans rather than coherent political argument.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘LIFE. Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy T° Editor Life, so frquently RR walked on by downtrodden 3 races: Dearest Sir :— Question of Irish Freedom are now aggitating all Jap- anese minds in such an ex- tended that I am writing you some replies to know follows: 1—What will be Ireland's colonial policy in Amer- ica? 2—Will capital of Ireland be changed to Dublin or remain in New York as usual? 3—Will U. S. be permitted self-deter- mination or dominion government? 4—Must America taxed without manner continue on being representation in Irish Palliment ? My cousin Nogi approach up to me yestdy and say with green and yellow stripes in his voice: “Togo, Ireland must be free!” “She are loose already hear,” are slight rejounce for me. “She are shakkled and in slaves,” he corrode. “Fair Earin lays stamped by cruel bootware of those 2 Georges (Loyd and King). Fortunately Ireland can suf- fer in silence. That long-induring and patient race “I ask to know This “Where did you obtain that umportant inflammation?” “I have attended’ Pilgrim Tercentenni- ary Irish Jubilee and listened to speech by the former Tim McCann who are now called by his Gaelic name Eogeaiamonr Macdeuchlauch (pronounced Dan Mur- from noise I from me. Banzai Ireland! By Wallace Irwin phy). Great Britten, say that talented oratorio, continue to practice smash and grind on face of Ireland when she did not do nothing. Because pure patriots of Sinn Fein got inspired by high-minded thoughts and shoot English soldiers while they was enjoying wicked sleep in bed, are that any reason why skunkish deprav- ity in tan uniforms should get mad and shoot back? 1000000000 times no! Them English can never take a joke. “Brutal mercenaries of that perfidious Albino (England) swogger through streets of Cork, pointing cannons at innocent Corkers, acting very peev because thir- teen (13) Brittish officers have been slew during night. English are stingy race, disabled to think in large numbers, What are the lives of thirteen (13) Brittish of- ficers compared to freedom of all Ire- land? “Ireland (say Hon deuchlauch) will may She are somewhat free already she will turn to America, pressed and downtroddy people. and re- her with gratitudes. Ireland will America freedom, Irish flags will ed on top of schools, colleges What Eogeaimonn Mac- and can be free! And now friend of pay teach he dishy and city halls a could be freer than that?” Nothing.” I Americans over America. negotiate. “Banzai for freedom! can dishplay any flag they pleases.” “Stop up!” holla Nogi, closing window so nobody would be listening. “That re- mark are flavored with treason. How durst you? Hold down your breath when you talk, or maybe you will be arrested by Mayor Hylan’s vice squad as a paid advertising agent of the Brittish Empire. Great Britten continue to practice smash and grind on face of Ireland when she did not do nothing. o That Pilgrim arrival at Plymouth Rock were nothing more than English poppaganda. What a wicked mind you have! you will be flottering 3 your upstairs window.” Nextly Union Jack from “In surroundings of freedom,” I say for frights, “could I not be permitted to show whatever banner I wish it?” “You might,” he annunciate, “if you would hide inside a military tank and go very rapidly.” “What other enthusiasm do that Hon. Macdeuchlauch say?” I ask to know. “Three hundred years of yore (he say so) those Hon. Pilgrim Fathers was pas- sangers to bleek New England shores. If they had been anything but paid Brittish poppagandists they would have named it New Ireland. But they came, howeverly, and it were a historical event of slight umportance, because no Irish cared to tra- vel in that ferryboat Mayflower. Y: what great oaks from little acorns jump! Those Bruttal English puritans had si ficient foresight to prepare Boston for fu- comicbooks.com