Life, 1888-12-06 · page 12 of 16
Life — December 6, 1888 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Drama Section Analysis This page satirizes late 19th-century theater and politics through theatrical gossip and humor. **The Eden Musée satire** is the most pointed: Life jokes that Queen Victoria's wax figure at this museum demanded a raise and threatened to quit because she was positioned next to Grover Cleveland's figure. The text claims this explains Benjamin Harrison's "truculent look" among the "World's Rulers" exhibit—a dig at the 1888 presidential election where Harrison defeated the incumbent Cleveland. Life mocks both the absurdity of wax figures having workplace disputes and the political transition itself. **Other items** offer theater criticism: "Partners" lacks strength despite good acting; "The Lottery of Love" succeeds despite moral objections; British actresses aren't superior to American ones; and "The Old Homestead" is profitably running. **The final sketch, "Settled Beforehand,"** appears to reference a political figure (possibly Harrison) who "played the ace"—likely a veiled political comment about recent electoral maneuvering. The page exemplifies Life's blend of entertainment criticism with political mockery through theatrical metaphors.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
- LIFE: DRIFT. se PARTNERS.” by Robert Buchanan, makes way this week for “Captain Smith,” at the Madison Square Theatre. Mr. Buchanan called his play a comedy-drama. There was not enough of comedy to make it successful in that aspect, and the drama part lacked strength. Even with the excellent acting of Mr. Palmer's company, notably that of Messrs. Salvini, Stoddard and Holland, the play could not be made to take with New York audiences. . . . “THERE is trouble at the Eden Musée. Queen Victoria bounced into the manager's office shortly after the Lord Sackville episode, and said that she would leave the company if she were obliged to sit next to Grover Cleveland any longer. She was somewhat pacified by the promise of an increase of salary and assurances that Benjamin Har- rison would soon be given Mr. Cleveland's place among the “World's Rulers.” This ac- counts for the truculent look which visitors to the Musée have observed in the Presi- dent's face. . . . OTTERIES may be against the law, but “The Lottery of Love" at Daly's Theatre continues to draw night after night, and week after week. Where's Mr. Antonio Com- stock ? . . . RITISH brawn and muscle, as exemplified in the young women of the London Gaiety Theatre, now playing in burlesque at the Standard, is not so superior to Ameri- can plumpness and suppleness after all. The United States does not need a protective tariff on imports of this kind. . . . F every New England farmer could turn his old home- stead into such a gold mine as Denman Thompson has his, there would be less complaint about the New England farmer's hard lot. ‘* The Old Homestead " at the Academy is panning out at the rate of $8,000 a week. . . . TH public at large has seconded LiFe's opinion of “The Yeomen,” and crowds the Casino nightly. The opera gains rather than loses upon repeated hearing. OCIETY NOTE.—The many friends of “ Mr. Barnes, of New York,” will regret to learn that he has left the city in search of green fields and pastures new. . . . RS. FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT'S dramatic youngster, “ Little Lord Fauntleroy,” takes the place of “Mr. Barnes, of New York,” at the Broadway. Every one who has the price of admission can gain opportunity to see him, which advantage will be duly appreciated by the large contingent of New Yorkers who dearly love a lord. * . . “© G@WEET LAVENDER” is proving a good crop for the Lyceum management, and there seems to be no immediate prospect of its going to seed. . . . “ ADDY GOOGAN” continues to win double laurels for Mr. Edward Harrigan as dramatist and actor. It may not pay to be a literary hack, but it cer- tainly pays Mr. Harrigan to be a dramatic hackman. Metcalfe. LE POURQUOI. HE gossips are wondering why I refused him— The ca‘ch of the season, who, toothless and old, A poor wheezy Crovsus, asthmatic, dyspeptic, Is steeped to the eyebrows in silver and gold. I let them ascribe to me loftiest motives, Well pleased to make capital out of my woes; And no one has guessed that I couldn't accept him, For the best of all reasons—he didn't propose! MEW, SETTLED BEFOREHAND. NIEL: I’m glad to see that you brace up, sire, and play the king. THE PRESIDEN has played the ace. : That's allright, Daniel, but Harrison comicbooks.com