Life, 1887-01-13 · page 5 of 16
Life — January 13, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 19 The main illustration depicts a theater scene where Mr. V. arrives late to a ballet, interrupting Mrs. Goodear mid-conversation. The satire centers on Mr. V.'s indifference to missing the performance—he claims he doesn't attend for "scenery" but finds it "cuts me up" when told he's late for the ballet. The joke plays on masculine affectation: men of the era affected disinterest in artistic pursuits like ballet as "unmanly," yet this character reveals his actual investment by being upset about missing it—exposing the pretense of his indifference. Below are brief humorous remarks about Henry Irving's "Faust," Shakespeare productions, high fashion in theater, and political commentary ("electric experiment—Repeating at the polls"), typical of Life's satirical format mixing theatrical and political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Mrs, Goodear : | AM S0 SORRY YOU ARE LATE, YOU HAVE MISSED THAT BEAUTIFUL ARIA IN THE FIRST ACT, AND THE LOVELY ANDANTE MOVEMENT IN THE SECOND. Mr. V.: On, I DON’T CARE SO MUCH FOR THE area, DON'T YOU KNOW, AS I DON’T GO IN FOR SCENERY. BUT IT CUTS ME UP AWFULLY WHEN YOU TELL ME I AM LATE FOR THE BALLET. LIKES SOMETHING LIVELY. HE: Did you see Henry Irving in “ Faust” while abroad, Mr. Breezy? MR. BREEZY (of Chicago): No; 1 find most of Shake- speare’s plays rather dull and uninteresting, although “ Adonis” is not so bad. HILE the fashion of high hats is in vogue is the time to elevate the stage. AN electric experiment—Repeating at the polls. REMNANTS. RUTH lies at the bottom of a well, but if you want falsehood in any quantity you must go to the tomb- stones. * * * O prima donna was ever known to be incapacitated by sickness from singing on her “ benefit” night. * * * HE country is in fear and trembling every day that Con- «gress may do something. comicbooks.com