Life, 1921-12-01 · page 32 of 58
Life — December 1, 1921 — page 32: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1921 satire by Wallace Irwin mocks President Warren G. Harding through mock "gift suggestions" from Japanese donors. The humor rests on several layers: **The Setup**: A fictional "Japanese-American Society" collects money for Harding, a sitting U.S. president—absurd on its face. **The Satire**: Japanese characters (written in exaggerated pidgin English) suggest hilariously impractical gifts while obliquely criticizing Harding's foreign policy. One suggests a "glass overcoat" (expensive and useless); another references Senator Borah's public criticism of the White House, and another jokes about isolationism ("disentangled from Europe"). **The Joke**: The cartoonist uses Japanese personas to critique American politics indirectly—a common early-20th-century satirical device. The pidgin dialogue itself was considered humorous to contemporary readers, though it reads as offensive today. The secondary cartoon depicts a character refusing Christmas donations, satirizing post-tax stinginess among the wealthy during economic hardship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Could Rev. President Harding Feel Any Fresher? Togo Has Valuable Money on Hand for Safe and Sane Christmas Present ‘O Editor “Life Weakly Gazette,” a publication, Dear Printer: The Japanese Hyphen Literary American Society has collected up v “Something broke his heart, so he went downstairs.” uable money (11$) for purpose to send Imperial Highness Rev. Hon. U. S. Pres. Warring G. Harding one slight Christmas contribution. Some of this is in W. S. stampage, but our hearts are on the right side and we wish pas- sionly to send some present like he never got before. We reelize how nearly all true Americans (Republican) have donated to him hand-painted col- lars, er eggs, China curling irons, dogs (fire and bull), educated turkeys and portraits of Henry Crabbot Lodge done on hammered brass with a nail. All these sweet memorials come con- tinuously by freight to show how Amer- ica shall remain disentangled from Eu- rope. But what could we send to Rev. Pres Harding so he will feel suprised and fresher? We have asked considerable Japanese minds of prominence to make snuggestions for this, and from the most intellectual brains we have re- ceived following replies: Wallace Irwin Hon. Frank Hondo (Japanese shoe- polish) — Please donate to him a gla coat painted with flags of all na- tions. This would contain entire spirit of Xmas, because it are ex- pensive to ship and quite useless when it gets there. Cousin Nogi— Send photo of Royal Embassador Geo Harvey making speech at St Jas. Palace with following quota- tion from his works, “Goodbye Sup- per State, foreign tanglements & other nincompups Arthur Kickahajama— Send him Japanese book of Si-Ko Analysis so he can find out why Senator Borah keep on talking to White House like he forgot Hon. Woodrow Wilson moved away. ss over- have Mr. Editor, because I am on Com- mittee on Finance for that collection I have enjoyed much pain obtaining this cash from my countrymen who can be- come quite Scottish in times of give- awa, For instancely, last Wedsdy p.m. I in- truded on residence of Alexander Katsu. who wads his money very tightly. “1$ please,” I negotiate. “Are you also asking money to help Ireland starve?” he narrate with but- tons on his pockets. Ah no!” I pronounce distinctually. ‘But Mary Christmas will soonly be here.” “Whoever started Christmas,” he say so, “began it with big mistake. What German efficiency would think of mak- ing money-blow ceremony ten (10) ays after incom-tax payment? No- 3ut this date are neccessary for all ians,” I officiate. he corrode. “Then I can save 1$ by being a heathen.” “How foolish thought!” I dib. i we learn to imitate evil wa: Christians when will we become civil- ized? Also heathen nationalities should help to make Christmas brighter be- cause only the rich can get drunk this year. Shall we deprive poor popper children of slumms happiness of be- coming sick from too much candy? Do not behave so scrooge. Nextly you know you will be joining the S,P. U. G.” “What are S. P. U. G.?” require \lexander Katsu with 3% expression. “Society for Preservation of Ugly I explunge. “Unless check- books are bursted occasionally and bankrupcy enjoyed by husbands, fa- thers, etc., ladies will go on strike and stop looking pretty because what's the use. Children would not grow up with- out toys to smash on holiday time of money blow-up. Without pretty girl marriage would become unfashionable. Therefore human race would be post- poned indefinitely.” “Sandy Claus are a delicious disap- pointment like Stillman and_ others, snarrel Katsu. “Ah yes sometimes!” I amputate. “But what historical character would you substitute for cither gentleman?” “I nominate Hon. Benj. Franklin,” snuggest him. ‘What have Sandy Claus ever done for the Republican party? Nothing, after election. But (Continued on page 51) “Sandy Claus are a delicious dis- appointment.” comicbooks.com