Life, 1892-09-22 · page 11 of 14
Life — September 22, 1892 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 165 Analysis This page discusses theatrical adaptations of literary classics. The text reviews stage versions of works including "The Scarlet Letter" and another play by Mr. Hatton, praising their dramatic potential while noting the challenges of adaptation. The illustrations show period costume scenes—one depicts a couple in conversation with a parasol-carrying woman, another shows what appears to be a training or military scene. The dialogue discusses someone undergoing "awful training" to demonstrate toughness. The top historical engraving labeled "September 23, 1780 / Capture of Major André" references the American Revolutionary War spy John André's capture. The page primarily focuses on theater criticism and literary adaptations rather than political satire. Without clearer context, the specific dramatic works being reviewed and their relevance to contemporary 1920s-era issues remain somewhat unclear from this excerpt alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SEPTEMBER 23, 1780. CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. force and strong situations, but it is more pleasing to the lover of the book than if the dramatist had sacrificed the story to make “ The Scarlet Letter” a “stagey" play. In the acting, as in the book, the three principal characters stand out in strong relief, to which all the others but furnish abackground. Of these three Mr. Mansfield’s Dimmesdale least satisfies the spectator. Mr. Ferguson was quite suc- cessful in portraying CAsddingworth, making him perhaps a little more human and capable of affection than the original. Hester is a part which, in the hands of almost any capable actress, would play itself. Miss Cameron looks the part well and plays it with thorough intelligence. We think that Mr. Hatton's play will live. Its story is a simple one, and it deals with a great human question, Its tone is sombre it is true, but the motive of the story would be He: V'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN A DESPERATE FLIRTATION, BUT I'm unacceptable if dealt with less seriously. We think it even sinev or tr, aND I Wisit THlt, OIRL. WOULD GENTLY DROP ME. possible that the play may become a classic. Metcalfe. She: THEN, WHY DON'T YOU PROPOSE TO HER? “WHY DOES HE GO THROUGH SUCH AWFUL TRAINING 2?” “TO MAKE HIMSELF TOUGH.” “THEN WHY DOES HE GO ON SUCH AWFUL SPREES 2?" “To sow HOW TOUGH HE IS, MY DEAR.” comicbooks.com