Life, 1892-02-25 · page 12 of 16
Life — February 25, 1892 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 122 Analysis This page contains theatrical criticism and humor typical of Life's satirical approach. **Top section:** Life offers backhanded compliments to theater producer Augustin Daly regarding his play "Love in Tandem," which Life calls "stupid" and "dramatic trash." The satire is that Daly—a respected theater figure—selected and adapted this poor material himself, then injected clever dialogue trying to salvage it. Life's point: even Daly's talent couldn't redeem such weak source material, and he should exercise better judgment selecting plays. **Middle section:** A favorable review of Agnes Huntington's opera "Captain Therese," noting improvements in her acting (compared to "Paul Jones") despite her current voice problems from illness. **Lower cartoons and dialogue:** A crude joke about Chinese practices, and a children's humor section where a student earnestly misinterprets a history question—answering that George Washington showed courage by marrying a widow, rather than understanding the intended serious historical answer. The page reflects late 19th-century Life's blend of theater criticism and genteel satirical humor.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
122 - LIFE: LIFE’S COMPLIMENTS AND REGRETS. R. AUGUSTIN DALY has the assurance of LiFe’s most sincere consideration and also L1Fe’s equally sincere condolences. “Love in Tandem” is so stupid that it must pain Mr. Daly to see it on his stage. It must also grieve him to see the remarkable excellencies of his company wasted on such dramatic trash. And his anguish must become even more poignant when he thinks that he himself selected the play and adapted it to the American stage. His suffering is doubtless ameliorated somewhat when he finds that he has injected some clever dialogue into the piece and when he contem- plates the clever work done by his company. Ere this he has doubtless taken himself into his study and after the self-infliction of several coups de pied has inquired of himself what is the matter with his powers of adaptation. He has probably reached the conclusion that he hasn't used good judgment in picking out his material. And Lire, with continued remembrance of what theatre-goers owe to Mr. Daly for his past successful efforts, renews its assurances of esteem and hopes he will do better next time. . . . M's AGNES HUNTINGTON'S new opera, “Captain Therese,” abounds in catchy and musicianly music. The company is good and well trained. The action of the piece drags at points, but, is in the main interesting and amusing. Miss Huntington shows decided improve- ment in her dramatic work over that she did in “ Paul Jones,” but, owing to an attack of the grip, her voice is—at the present writing—beyond criticism. The piece is well mounted, the chorus being especially brilliant, and ‘aptain Therese altogether, furnishes an agreeable evening's amusement. He: You KNOW, THEY HAVE A FINE IDEA IN CHINA; THEY KILL ALL THE TO THE HoGs. She: AV AND MERE THE GIRLS ARE NOT GIVEN TO THE Hoos TILL THEY HAVE GROWN THE TURNING OF THE WORM. THAT REQUIRED COURAGE. HAT particular incident in the life of George Washington marked his un- daunted courage ?" asked the teacher. “He married a widow, ma‘am,” replied Benny Bloobumper. “ comicbooks.com