Judge, 1914-08-29 · page 11 of 24
Judge — August 29, 1914 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This piece satirizes wealthy society women organizing a charity pantomime for "Bibs for Bibless Babies." The humor centers on their pretense and ulterior motives beneath charitable work. The main joke: Mrs. Van Tasselle (the beautiful, handsome woman in the illustration) will play Columbine opposite Harry Van Tilbury as Harlequin—a casting that fuels Mrs. Van Tilbury's suspicions of an affair. Mrs. Van Tilbury retaliates by insisting Van Tasselle's own husband (Mr. Van Tasselle, described as a shrimp married only for his money) play the Clown. She then sabotages them by imposing rehearsal restrictions. The satire mocks how charity events among the wealthy become vehicles for social positioning, jealousy, and marital drama rather than genuine philanthropy. The women care more about newspaper coverage and personal appearance than the supposed cause. The "pantomime" setup allows slapstick comedy about infidelity suspicions and petty revenge among the leisure class.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ST’S have something really amus- ing,’’ said Mrs, Van Trompe. I know isn't usual in a charity enter- tainment, but’ “Why not?” asked Mrs. Van Tilbury. “I'm tired of the conventional things.’” “We've had serious drama and histor- ical tableaux and all that,’’ said Mrs. Van Kirke, ‘‘and we ought to be original. Why not a panto- uprising in suggestion. asked Mrs. Van ‘I'rompe. mime?’’ Mrs. Van Kirke was alwa: “Would a pantomime be original “Why, it’s old enough and rare enough to be original,’’ replied Mrs. Van Kirke. “And the newspapers would just eat it up!”’ suggested Mrs. Van Tilbury. **And that would help the cause immensely,"” said Mrs. Van Trompe, ‘‘to say nothing of per- sonal mention.’’ “Illustrated with portraits of all of us in costume and all that,’’ put in Mrs. Van Kirke. So it was decided that the Society for Pro- viding Bibs for Bibless Babies should give a pantomime. The great country place of the Van Tasselles had always been at the call of the society for these events, and Mrs. Van Tasselle grew newly happy at the suggestion. Much was always conceded to her. And as it happened that she was handsome enough and wanted the part, it was decided that she should be the Columbine. Cupid, Stage Manager By J. A, WALDRON James A. Waldron. a,» 4, Mrs. Van Tasselle was also expert in pantomime. She could express more biting disapproval of a person she didn’t like by a shrug than most women can convey verbally. At Mrs. Van Tasselle’s suggestion Harry Van Tilbury, Mrs. Van Tilbury’s husband, was to be Harlequin. His wife objected at first. She saw in this juxtaposition of personali- ties a confirmation of her suspicion that her lord and master and the handsome Mrs. Van Tasselle were willing to know each other better. It was whispered that they were already well acquainted. Harry was a handsome and a gallant blade, while his wife was no beauty. Money had alsé spelled matrimony in her case. Her objection was ephemeral, though her sus- picion survived, and Van Tilbury became Harle- quin to Mrs, Van Tasselle’s Columbine. But Mrs. Van Tilbury squared matters by in- sisting that Van Tasselle should be Clown, be- cause he was ‘‘so humorous."” He was a little shrimp. Mrs. Van Tasselle had married his money. Mrs. Van Tilbury, this being settled, decided she would put a flea in his ear that tabs might be kept during rehearsals and the per- formance. There was no part in the pantomime for her, as it had been modernized. Of course there was to be an assembly of women in scant attire—something like a chorus and something like a ballet—but Mrs. Van Tilbury would not comicbooks.com