Life, 1888-11-01 · page 12 of 14
Life — November 1, 1888 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 250 This page contains two distinct comic pieces: **Main Feature: A Shakespearean Parody** The lengthy dramatic scene parodies Shakespeare's *Henry VIII*, depicting King Henry in absurd jealous rage over Queen Catherine's visits to her dressmaker in the Strand (a London shopping street). Henry orders mass executions based on paranoid misunderstandings—killing not one but two habit-makers, then slaughtering everyone in the palace in an escalating frenzy. The satire mocks both overwrought Shakespearean tragedy and male jealousy over women's clothing expenses and time spent with dressmakers. **Two Shorter Humor Pieces Below:** 1. **"A Valuable Animal"**: Two society men discuss acquiring a dog from a blind man; the joke plays on affected upper-class speech patterns and the absurd logic that one needn't remember his home address since the dog can lead him there. 2. **"For Economy"**: An African American character explains he only dances in berry-cold weather—unclear social commentary, though the dialect humor was standard (if offensive) period comedy. The page targets class pretension and gender relations through theatrical exaggeration.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
250 Hesry: gd MistNeL. Hesry: SOLDIER: HENRY: SoLpier: Henry: Sotpier: Henry: SoLpie MOTHERS-IN-Law (in concer): Henry: (He advances, CaTH, : Henry: Catit Henry CaTH.: Henry ; CaTH, : Henry Cath, : 4TH M.-IN-L.: Henry: 4TH M-IN-L, CaTu. : HENRY (rushing towards her): * LIFE: What of her? She goes oft—too often— To see her habit-maker in the Strand. ‘Tis true, she makes pretense of fitting gowns, But— Death and furies! I can see it all! His hands about her! Then her arm, her neck Girt with his measuring-tape! ‘The caitifi’s breath Warm on her cheek, perchance! King Henry's queen Thus to be fingered! Ha! His life is forfeit! What, ho, without there, guards ! (Enter Soldier.) Your Majesty ! Send twenty men—go quickly—let them hang ‘The cursed habit-maker in the Strand Within the hour! Knave, hasten! But—but, Sire, Which— Hang both,! Two! Would there had been ¢wenty, so my thirst For gore might be not quenched, but slightly slaked! I go, Sire, but I fear—the Queen— There are ¢wo habit-makers, Ab, villain, The Queen has bought thee! Hell and furies, die! Take that, and that (stads Aim), and that! Oh, spare me! Murder! Peace, hags! Why, here is blood—good, ruddy blood ! I'll see if yours is redder. and they fly shrieking from the apartment, Catherine.) ‘Thou didst not join the chase, Sire; art thou ill ? Forbear thy blandishments! 1 have heard all; And ere the sun shall set thy habit-maker Shall hang as high as Haman (Dies) Enter Is this true? Astrue as thou art false ! Then hear me, Henry. I have forgiven much, but this last outrage ‘Turns all my love to hate! My habit-maker? And, oh, he fitted so divinely! Go! Thou art a fiend! My soul is full of sadness— The shadows of misfitted gowns oppress me! Catherine, forgive me! Never!!—nevermore. Forgive, and I will save him even yet. Well, if thou canst— (Enter fourth Mother-in-Law, Too late! too late! He's hanged! I'm glad for thy sake, minx, that he no more Can give to thee such tournure and such style! Black-hearted wretch, I'll kill thee! (/Ye stabs her.) (faintly): Never mind ; Thou hast hung both, and Catherine won't forgive! (Dies.) is true; I hate and loathe thee. Then die, too! By all the powers of hell, I'll make an end Of every soul within these palace walls! (Enter the other three Mothers-in-Law.) Here's prey just to my liking. Gore, more gore! (Stabs all three.) Come, all ye devils, to this carnival! Quick, quick! I reel—I stagger! Iam choked! I'm mad—stark, staring mad! Ha! Give me blood. Hell, furies, lames and curses! Let medie! (Fad/s.) CURTAIN, fil H \ TAC TL A VALUABLE ANIMAL. Clarence: AW, BYJOVE! CHOLLY, WHERE DID Y' GET sUCH— AW—BWEASTLY CUR? Cholly : BAWGHT NIM OF—AW—DLIND FELLAH—LEADS ME WIGHT HoMETAND I—AW—DOS'T HAVE THE DWEADFUL. WESPONSIBILITY OF WEMEMBERING WHERE I LIVE, Y’ KNOW, ITTLENECKS are in great de- mand. Don't be a clam! CONSIDERING. OVINGTON: Limagine, Miss Gotham, that your friend from Boston, of whom you so often speak, is very beau- tiful, is she not? Miss GOTHAM: Well— er— Penelope is a very pleas- ing person, Mr. Murray, but she is from Boston, you know. FOR ECONOMY. Hostess (of swell Thompson Street sotrée, to guest): Don’ yo’ darnce, Mista’ Ba’sgrease? MR. BEARSGREASE: Well, to tell de truf ob dis matter, I yused to darnce a great deal, but mo’ recently ob late, I only darnce in de berry coldest weather ter keep me wa’m. comicbooks.com