Life, 1887-03-03 · page 11 of 16
Life — March 3, 1887 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 125 **Top Section - Opera Critique:** The text reviews Gilbert and Sullivan's "Ruddigore," critiquing performances by various cast members. The three small cartoon panels at top show cats engaged in comedic situations, illustrating the phrase "Ha, this is something like!" — a visual pun or humorous interlude unrelated to the opera review. **"Not Encouraging" Section:** Two brief satirical paragraphs mock: 1. General Booth of the Salvation Army for forbidding alcohol to members while paying them poorly 2. A rumor about the President (identity unclear from context) behaving unusually after marriage — the satire suggests gossip exaggerated his normal, reserved demeanor **"Ins and Outs of Housekeeping":** A comic dialogue between a mistress and grocer, poking fun at domestic confusion and servant miscommunication. **"In Charleston":** A dialect piece depicting two African American women discussing church attendance after earthquakes, using period stereotypical speech patterns. The humor relies on the racial caricature conventions common to late-19th-century publications.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Ha, this is something like! music is as weak as Gilbert's libretto, and the two together cannot make more than a suggestion of strength. Miss Kate Forster was Mad Margaret. Mad Mar- garet is more recognizable as a travesty than any other character in the opera. There is in it a dash of Faust’s heroine and a flavor of Mrs. Hamlet that was to be, which can be detected after some little consideration. Courtice Pounds as Richard Dauntless had a sort of concert-hall part, in which he dances a hornpipe and makes some very tiring allusions to the dictates of his heart. Mr. Federici as Sir Roderick Murgatroyd, owing to the part, is not of very much importance. Miss Elsie Cameron is Dame Hannah, a mild dilution of Lady Jane and Katisha. Miss Cameron has nothing of an amusing nature to do, and | beyond the reference to herself as an abducted maiden is an undoubted nuisance. which—as it is the fashion to seek for motives in all Gil- bert’s ideas—is probably a burlesque on Adam in “ As you Like It.” The chorus in “ Ruddygore ” is less conspicuous than it | It may be | interesting to know that the uniforms in the first act represent | might effectively be. The scenery is pretty. those of the gth Lancers, the 17th Light Dragoons, the 52d Light Infantry, the 18th Hussars and the Coldstream Guards, | but such information is imparted by the programmes very much as though we had been told: “Here you may laugh.” Not quite, however. Whatever emotions “ Ruddygore” may inspire, laughter has no place among them. Alan Dale. NOT ENCOURAGING. ENERAL BOOTH, of the Salvation Army, says no man of that organization can afford to use whiskey. It seems to us strange that at the low price of that condi- ment his disciples cannot afford a horn now and then. He must keep them very poor. WASHINGTON paper says the President has not altered any in his manner since his marriage. That when he is introduced to anyone he simply shakes hands, bows, smiles, speaks a few words, and passes on. There was a rumor going round that he twisted his friend's arm, threw a back somerset, and yelled defiantly. Whew! —! Leo Kloss is Old Adam Goodheart, | Well, I'll be — !—— 11 INS AND OUTS OF HOUSEKEEPING. Beweer (well trained): Be yez in or out, mum? It’s the grocer? MISTRESS: Out! GROCER (wth d:l1 following close): Well, 1 will wait until you return. IN CHARLESTON. First Lady: Is—E GWINE TER CHUTCH TO TANK DE LauD DEY AUN’T NO MO’ ERFQUAKES, AIN'T YO GWINE TOO, MY SISTER? Second Lady: NO! NO! MY SISTER, I NO GwiINE! BRIC’ CHUTCH ? First Lady: DE BRIC’ CHUTCH FO! TRU’, BUT DON’ yo! TRUS’ DE Laub? Second Lady: 1 TRUS’ DE Laub, aw MY SISTER, I TRUS’ UM, BUT I NEBER FOOL WID UM. ENTY DE comicbooks.com