Life, 1890-06-26 · page 5 of 15
Life — June 26, 1890 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 367 **Main Article: "A Craze"** This piece satirizes the obsession with Spanish dancer Carmencita, whose performances at Niblo's Garden created a social frenzy. The author mocks New York's high society for hypocritically patronizing a disreputable beer hall—a venue with a scandalous reputation—under the pretense of sophisticated cultural interest. The satire suggests the wealthy use Carmencita as an excuse to indulge in "vulgar" entertainment while maintaining respectability. The final jab criticizes the Madison Square Garden opening's technical problems, implying proper management could have prevented the disaster. **Secondary Jokes** Two brief comic dialogues mock romantic proposals and lost courtship customs, using dated social conventions as humor. The page reflects Gilded Age tensions between Victorian respectability and urban entertainment venues.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* LIFE: 367 A CRAZE. (ORSERNATIVEMINDED people wonder why the dancing of Carmencita has created such a furore. This wonder is naturally increased when it is remembered that Carmencita appeared at Niblo’s Garden last year for a number of weeks without creating any excitement at all. But when New York goes mad there is usually a method in its madness, and there is a very simple explanation for the craze over the performance of the Spanish dancer. She furnishes the excuse which prudishness demands when it wants to do what it calls an improper thing. The beer-hall where Carmencita dances has been in operation some years, and has acquired a reputation for wickedness which has rather piqued the curiosity of that class of people whose illiberality has made it impossible for New York to have reputable and well-conducted concert-gardens. The place has its wicked side, but carefully conceals it from the view of the ordinary visitor. Therefore, the people who make Carmencita an ex- cuse for indulging their curiosity find only a third-rate variety show, con- ducted under ruffianly management amid vulgar instead of wicked and alluring surroundings. But they have been there, and they boast of it to their associates, piquing their curiosity and veiling their boasted wickedness under enthusiasm for Carmencita’s dancing. Not to be out- done in wickedness, these likewise have to go slumming, and in their turn boast of it. Hence the craze for Carmencita among the vulgar herd who only follow where others lead. T’S a pity that the Madison Square Garden couldn't have been “tried ona dog” instead of on so brilliant an audience as witnessed its opening. The difficulty of hearing and seeing which marked the opening will doubtless be taken care of by the management in the near future, and then New York will have a model Summer entertainment. FROM THE TRAGEDY OF THE FUTURE. ISMARCK: The Emperor's a brute. Mrs. Biz: Why so, oh man of blood ? BISMARCK: He doth burlesque. Mrs, Biz: And how, oh Iron ex-Chancellor ? BisMARCK: When he did seek to know the status of me health he put itthus: ‘ How doth the little Bizzy be?” Mrs. Biz: Ye Gods! What baseness here there is! TOO BAD. a ID you propose to Henrietta?” She: Hatto, Bitty, “Yes,” He; EXcuse Me, MARIAR SMITH, THERE WUZ A TIME WHEN YOU COULD A “E 2” CALLED ME BY TH TITLE AN’ YER DIDN'T. I WUZ PORE THEN, AN’ YER COLD- Raged ? NESS CHILLED ME TO THER HEART, Now I AM ABLE TO DRIVE MY SPAN, YER “No, I was for the League, but she preferred — tysx yer KIN SMOOTH THER PAST OVER; BUT I TELL YER, MARIAR SMITH, IT the Brotherhood.” can'T BE ID. IT'S TOO LATE! ! comicbooks.com