Life, 1884-11-27 · page 12 of 16
Life — November 27, 1884 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Satire (Page 306) This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **Theater Criticism ("After the Play"):** A seasoned theatergoer dismisses the new play "Constance" as mediocre, contrasting it with Wallack's theater company's supposedly superior past. The older playgoer uses cutting metaphors—comparing the plot to "pudding-stone" (an ugly geological formation)—to convey cynical disillusionment with theatrical decline. **"Answers to Correspondents":** Life's editorial staff responds sarcastically to named public figures. Most notably, **J.L. Sullivan** (the famous boxer) receives mockery about entering the legal profession, with dark humor about Justice being "hard to knock out." This mocks his celebrity attempting serious pursuits beyond boxing. **"How It Is Done":** A brief cartoon joke about newspaper production: when space remains, editors simply contradict previous stories rather than find new content—satirizing journalistic corner-cutting and editorial laziness. The cartoon (visible but not detailed here) appears to show a newspaper office scene illustrating this editorial cynicism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
306 play were “Macbeth,” it would be all right. As it is “Constance,” unfortunately, it does not speak well for the personal supervision of the author in conjunction with Mr. | Lester Wallack. Miss Coghlan as the Angel of Purity (in black velvet), marries the Young Lover (who is not dead this time) after the Guardian Devil (Mr. Tearle) has killed the Bad Duke. Curtain. AFTER THE PLAY, Playgoer of Tender Years: \t is very well acted, isn’t it? Veteran Playgoer : \t is well acted—for Wallack’s. Playgoer of Tender Years: But 1 thought Wallack al- ways had the best company in New York ? Veteran Playgoer: So did 1—twenty years ago. Now I know better. But the performance of “ Constance” is good. Miss Coghlan is better than I have seen her since she played in “ Forget-me-not,” and Miss Russell is charming. But the ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H-TEL-W R-ID: Yes, the United States Senatorship is a desirable position, In re- gard to your chances, we think they are better than any one else’s in the state for not getting it. We would like to see you there for one reason: it would take | you out of New York, but then there are countless other reasons which cause us to yearn for your absence even from the Senate. Suppose you organize yourself into a Gordon Relief Expedition ? Yay Go-ld: Yes, you are the champion wire-puller | of the country, H-n-y Ir-ng; Your communication was received. Pedestriologists, we believe, designate it as a “lope,” and we have about come to that conclusion ourselves. J. L. Sull-van :; We are pleased to learn of your appearance in legal fields. It has been opined by some of us that you will find Justice a hard person to knock out if she is in fighting trim, and candidly, John, now that she has got hold of you we hope she is. The only thing we can think of that can contend against this immortal sluggeress, Justice, is capital, but this of course you know. In regard to your question as to whether you can appeal to Mr. Bergh’s Society, we hardly think you are that kind of a brute. They are inoffensive, you know. | FASHION’S FANCIES. a ROUSERS will be worn this winter. * * . LINEN dusters at evening parties are not de rigeur. . * . VERY serviceable business suit for those who like things cut bias can be made of NM. Y. Tribunes. LE! FT. > LIFE: } gem of the performance is Mr. Kelcey’s fine, rich, ripe acting as the Duke d’Azeglio. Playgoer of Tender Years: | name? Veteran Playgoer : Yes. Playgoer of Tender Years: Isn't the Duke a Spaniard? Veteran Playgoer : Yes. Playgoer of Tender Years: How comes a Spanish Duke to have an Italian name? Veteran Playgoer : You must ask Mr. Robert Buchanan in conjunction with Mr. Lester Wallack. Playgoer of Tender Years: Didn't “Constance” remind you of nearly all the other plays you ever saw ? | Veteran Playgoer : \t reminds me of a conglomerate they call pudding-stone—it is quite as ugly and quite as heavy. Playgoer of Tender Years : But it is strong. Veteran Playgoer : So is butter—when it is bad ! Isn't Azeglio an Italian A.Z. HOW IT IS DONE, SCENE WESTERN NEWSPAPER OFFICE—(ENTER COMPOSITOR). Compositor: BOSS, WE WANT MORE COPY FOR TO-MORROW'S ISSUE, Editor: Bu CHILD IN HOBOKEN. Compositor : "VE DONE THAT, BUT THERE'S STILL A SPACE Editor : WELL, CONTRADICT IT THEN. comicbooks.com