Life, 1890-08-28 · page 11 of 16
Life — August 28, 1890 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Political Cartoon Analysis: "Life" Magazine, Page 109 The top cartoon satirizes Victorian-era carriage etiquette and social pretension. It depicts fashionable passengers in an open carriage—two men in top hats alongside elegantly dressed women with parasols. The caption mocks "Miss Noseblier," advising her to "set back and try and look easy" rather than craning her neck to gawk at the world "like you smelled somethin' bllis over on the stove." The satire targets upper-class affectation: the pretense of refined, composed behavior while actually being intensely curious about street life and gossip. The contrast between the performers' elaborate dress and their undignified nosiness exposes the gap between social aspiration and human nature. The accompanying text discusses summer theater productions, mentioning works like "Boan Drummel," light opera successes, and performers Mr. Wilson and Miss Jansen—context for contemporary entertainment references.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Miss Newdollar: Yow Goovness’ Sake, MarR, LIKE YOU SMELLED SOMETHIN’ BILIN’ OVER ON THE STOVE. DO SET TACK AND TRY AND LOOK EASY INSTEAD OF LOOKIN FOR ALL THE WORLD, HE summer theatre in this pr dl | country is not the least of the " ills that come with hot weather, > Such trash as the “ Red Hus- sar,” the ‘ Brazilian,” the Anglo-French version of “Madame Angot’s Daugh- ter,” inflicted on the and are community by the managers, because they know that the community is too listless in hot weather to get up and rend them limb from limb. Except Mr. Mansfield’ rendering of Beau Brummel the summer has brought us nothing but weak dramas and so-called operas which have been only commonplace music tistic sandwiched with weak humor. Much of this humor has been imported from England, and everyone knows what that means. Therefore, to chronicle two successes, and to be able to state also that these successes are thoroughly Ameri- can, is indeed a pleasure. The first is Sol Smith Russell's “ Tale of aC at Daly's, It isa delightful and refreshing piece of dramatic work. The other is Francis Wilson's “Merry Monarch,” at the Broadway. Mr. Wilson, in his dual capacit manager and artist, has given us far and away the best light opera since “Erminie.” ‘The music is not noteworthy, but the book, the acting and the accessories, are better than any we have had for a long time. Mr, Wilson and Miss Jansen are so easily first among the interpreters of light opera in America, that the success only confirms—not establishes—their position. V HEN the martyrs refused to recant during the reign of “ Bloody Mary,” they stood in their own light. comicbooks.com