Life, 1921-01-13 · page 27 of 36
Life — January 13, 1921 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a satirical letter from "Hashimura Togo," an Irish-American character. The cartoon (top) shows a studio scene where a female model poses while an artist works; the caption jokes that the artist can't accomplish anything without staring directly at his subject. The letter mocks Irish-American nationalism and idealism. The writer criticizes Irish revolutionaries for romanticizing their struggle while lacking practical substance—they're "poets and dreamers" with grand rhetoric but no real solutions (worrying about "bills" and "Income Tax" rather than actual governance). The satire targets the gap between Irish-American patriotic fervor and commercial reality: they oppose "low-down" commercialism while demanding payment, sing no revolutionary songs, and live comfortably in America while idealizing Ireland. This reflects early 20th-century American attitudes toward Irish immigrants and their political movements—portraying them as emotionally passionate but intellectually shallow or hypocritical. The sophisticated tone suggests *Life* magazine's educated, somewhat condescending audience.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SAY, MAMA, 1 ¢ Irish manageme Th New and turned n came Revo- war. York was captured r to Tam- all us This show how good. yw Trishers (say hh) that ‘k were Macdeuchl. Iymouth R nothing 1 We cannot 1 veable, I nearly love the all American. Stars and soul, I Old Glory tipes with heart and 102% my I adore frenzy that I would never pite Great Britten, Therefore, true hearts. ¢ such a it it, exe t us sware n Constitu- with r pure devotion to Americ nas long as it do not interfere Fein program. After meeting will adjurn to a brick-pile nd demonstrate our freedom by knock- ig all the flags off an old gentlemen's tub round the corner.” “That are quite similar to Declaration Sinn which DON'T THINK HE CAN BE WITHOUT LOOKING MUCH OF RIGHT AT ME.” of Indep wrote on ion Club windows last Thksgvg Day Maborate. Trelar “Ty and dreamer Nogi ambition da’ They with willbe the w s All they a America Gr like U, y requesh of a we What is the c t peace 1g as the world is Irish for kindness from lare war a mst Britten, A sweethearted na’ should not r and depres of a war compared with s dreamers b worried i “What would a obtain in return r that slight sacrifice?” I ask to know. “Thanks of Ireland, pussibly,” say Nogi. “If not, would at ing inside her soul.” “Uplifting of the Incum Tax would fol- low tha: “Togo,” Amer: snarrel Ameri she least upli T arrang' dib Nogi, a too long. you have stayed in You are filled with AN ARTIST, HE CAN'T DO A THING commerce have no song inside more. Irish revolu like tistically 1 w-down g monthly salar poor I “America is a free country hit by ng to fly Americans iesire} flag at freedom Irish . n, je submari freedo: when lives in Ireland. “I could n things,” say “You your intelligence.” Hoping you are the same. Yours truly, inform you of simple with French eyebrows. are with bones in living several Hashimura Togo. comicbooks.com