Life, 1921-01-27 · page 10 of 36
Life — January 27, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece by Wallace Irwin presents a Japanese character (Bonaparte Oki) writing letters to Life's editor. The caricature employs racial stereotypes common to 1910s-20s American satire, depicting a Japanese socialist attempting to infiltrate America. The cartoon mocks early communist/socialist rhetoric by having Oki describe removing telephones, street cars, and soap from Russia—absurd "improvements" under communism. The illustrations show comedic scenes: one depicts a burglar breaking in, another shows destruction. The satire targets both Japanese immigration anxieties and Red Scare fears about communist agitators. The piece uses exaggerated broken English and buffoonish characterization to ridicule both the foreign "threat" and communist ideology as laughably incompetent and destructive.
📄 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 Communism By Wallace Irwin 'O Editor Lire who tells the truth and shames the Devl illustrat- ed by Chas. Dana Gibson, Hon. Mr. + If America is not blown up and you are not dead when you read this letter will you kindly to report to Police Hdqrs at oncely about a dangerus enemy ailian who has come here to do so? Fol- lowing are description: Gen. APPearance Heighth 5 ft. 2 dark yellow Japanese name Bonaparte Oki with sinful suit- case cantaining dynamite which he probably stole from Hon. T. Coleman Dupont. Possibly this suitcase cantain Russian novels which is worse. He wear a clean shirt which will make him hard to catch, also stylish American clothes which fit unexpectedly around the sleeves. This Oki are a travelling salesman for the Red Republic. If found return to Hashimura Togo s$ reward and no questions asked. I shall tell you how that happened, Mr. Editor, so you can choose for yourself. Last Wedsdy p.m. time 11.22 (daylight saving) I was snugged in my bed enjoy- ing Irish Republican dreams when what was that? Noises! Rebounding out of my sleep I was just in time to be scared. I could see him dis- tinctually. Crolling sneek- retly like ants walking on custard a Burgle was en- croaching in through my pure window! “O robbery!!!" I holla, At those word he poke a shooting gun into my speech so I could not ex- plain what I thought about him. Yet I could observe his character. His cloth- ing was filled with very economical holes and he wore a dark curtain round say with Col. House expression, “un- doubtlessly you do not recognize me.” “Pleased to meet you,” I retort. “ And who would you be then? “Are you so capatilistik that you have forgotten old schoolfrend?” he ask, jerk- ing curtain from his nose. I look. Beholt! It was Bonaparte Oki, Japanese socialist of Petaluma, Cal! “Bonaparte Oki,” I ask to know, “why are you crepping into my room at mid- night p.m.?” ‘ “T am representing the Russian Govt.,” he report, revolving his gun nervusly over my hair. “If you will call during office hours,” I dib, “I shall not be at home.” “To Advanced Political Thinker,” he narrate, “there is no such things as office hours. Togo, I do not come here in spirit of Capitalisti€ Greed. Set still or I will shoot off the top of your intelligence. I am the advance agt. of New Ideals. I bring you a message from Free Russia to Chained America.” “T can take all messages over telephone, if convenient.” This from me. “Ah!” he prance up. “Do not men- tion telephones. There are no telephones in Russia, There are no street cars. There is no soap. There are no restau- rants. All those doggish engines of capi- talistic debutchery have been swepp away by broom of Liberty.” “So happy to know some sweeping has been done in Russia!” I annunciate. “I have just arrived back from that model Republic,” he say forth. “Togo, unless you are entirely iron you would be uplifted by those sights I saw it! Night before my removal from Petrograd I go All have been swepp away by broom of Liberty. to Gasolinski Prospekt for hear Sir Com- rade Lenin deliver address of thanks to his loving people entitled Gen. Orders 22,116 form 44. Subject: Free Speech for All. Quite late in that Meeting Hon. Lenin arrive surrounded by Trotsky and 3 regiments of machine guns. ‘Fellow soviets and affectionate comrades,’ he commence, ‘I am joyful to report that the undefeated Red Army has stopped run- ning away and has now captured Poland. After robbing the churches we shall amass sificient wealth to pay interest on our Liberty Bonds.’ (cheers) ‘And now I shall come to my subject, Free Speech. Free Speech are the cornerstone of lib- erty (quotation) Therefore Free Speech shall be the order from now on. Any- body caught disobeying will be shot at sunrise, as usual. Meeting adjourned to lynch an editor.’ “From those moment, Togo, I make up my mind. So when I arrived to America I obtained a gun by theft and Sally 4th to practice Communism.” “What are cumminism, if anything?” I ask to know from where I layed shoddering amid pillows. “Twill show you by his nose. . “Hashimura Togo,” he A Burgle was encroaching in through my pure window! kind demonstration,” pro- nounce this Oki while comicbooks.com