Life, 1893-10-19 · page 13 of 18
Life — October 19, 1893 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains theatrical criticism and satirical humor typical of Life magazine's content. **Main cartoon (top):** Shows an adult teaching children grammar through a crude joke. When asked the "feminine" of "Duke" and "Lord," the children answer "Duchess" and "Goddess"—playing on how nobility titles have gendered forms, but the humor likely relies on innuendo about women's roles or behavior. **Irish dialect dialogue:** Features two Irish characters debating whether one is drunk, with wordplay: if sober, he'd deny being drunk; therefore his denial proves he *is* drunk. This reflects period stereotypes about Irish characters in American humor. **Cuba reference:** A brief topical exchange about a Cuban revolution being "all over" with both revolutionists caught—referencing actual Cuban independence struggles of the 1890s-1900s. **Cartoon (bottom right):** Shows a man covered in sketches/designs, captioned "Having designs on him"—a pun about literal artistic designs versus romantic intentions. The page primarily discusses theatrical reviews, criticizing a play called *Paula* while praising actress Mrs. Kendal's performance, though questioning the play's propriety.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“TOMMY, WHAT IS THE FEMININE OF DUKE?" ** DUCHESS.” ‘“*AND WHAT IS THE FEMININE OF LorD?" “GopDEss.” 253 queray,” they succeed under false pretences. They have gained a reputation as ultra- pure. In this case they are more than vicious, Good art—that is, true art—covers a mul- titude of sins, But there are some exam- ples of the best mas- ters that we do not display in public. Metcalfe. ORIARTY, it's home you should be going. Ye're dhrunk.” “Bedad, but Oi'm not, soir.” “Ye're dhrunk, Oi say.” “Oi'm a liar, then, Phelim O'Reilly?” “No. Ye're jist dhrunk.” “Ye wouldn't say that if Oi was sober.” “I ye was sober ye wouldn't deny it.” BAe: How is that revolution in recognition, ‘There is no doubt though that this dodge was overworked. Towards the last “ Madge” and “ Willie” stood on the verge of ridicule. Apparently they have thought it expedient to go about on the other tack. It looks as though instead of doing this successfully they had really capsized, Mrs. Kendal’s performance of Pau/a is unquestionably She shows that she has actual knowledge, able coaching, or an artistic instinct which it is beyond the power of mathematics to calculate. We have heard of actresses going into mad-houses and hospitals to study actual cases of what they intended to depict. It would seem that Mrs. Kendal must have followed something the same course of self-instruction. The play is well presented, but there seems no good reason why it should ever have been presented at all, except for the financial betterment of Mr. and Mrs. Kendal. It is not a proper play for a mother to take her daughter to, or a brother hi: ter, Its audiences should be drawn from the purlieus of the Tenderloin Precinct, and not from the decent people of New York. If the Kendals succeed with “The Second Mrs. Tan- realistic. Cuba progressing ? JINKS (who reads the papers): It’s all over. “You don’t say! What became of the revolutionists ?" “They were both caught, I believe.” ‘HAVING DESIGNS ON HIM.” comicbooks.com