Life, 1894-06-07 · page 12 of 16
Life — June 7, 1894 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Life Magazine Page 374 Analysis This page contains three distinct pieces of satire typical of 1890s Life magazine: **"Love's Drinking Cup"** (top): A humorous poem mocking an old romantic tradition of drinking from a lover's shoe. The joke: the speaker's girlfriend Peggy has such large feet that her shoe couldn't hold enough liquid—a crude size-based insult disguised as sentiment. **"Lady Gladys" review** (center): A theatrical critique of Robert Buchanan's play, performed by actress Minnie Seligman. The reviewer argues the play requires refined acting but received clumsy execution from its American cast, making it disappointing. **"Living Pictures" reference** (bottom): A brief mention of New York's latest fad—women posing in tights to recreate famous paintings with theatrical lighting. The text notes this raises moral concerns involving reformer Anthony Comstock and Tammany Hall (political corruption), suggesting the exhibits border on indecency. **Right illustration**: A caricatured dandy directing someone "To Millyville," satirizing affected speech or pretension. **Bottom dialogues**: Two brief comedic exchanges about a woman's gray hair and a druggist's perfume sales tactics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LOVE’S DRINKING CUP. I N olden times, true lovers stole The dear one's pretty shoe, And drank from it, as proof of love, Till everything was blue. But should I Peggy's shoe purloin To measure out the stuff, I never could get full, because It would not hold enough ! M.S. Bridges. “LADY GLADYS.” R. ROBERT BUCHANAN is a gentleman who for” some years has been very much in vogue in Londgn asa general writer, a poet, anda dramatist. “ Lady Glady$ie as performed in this country, will probably add not many leaves to his laurels. oe First off, the piece is not much to his credit. In clever hands, with a cast well fit for every part and well rehearséd, it might go. It is one of those pieces that depend entirely on the looks and deportment of the people who interpret it. Thrown into the hugger-mugger of an American catch-as- catch-can company, Mr. Buchanan's ideals are not likely to be realized, and the result is likely to be disappointing to the audience as well. Made the excuse for the hoped for triumph of Miss Minnie Seligman, it is not remarkable that “ Lady Gladys" should in several respects be found wanting. This means no dis- respect to the abilities of that lady. She has given reason to believe that she has some ability. Nothing that she does in “ Lady Gladys” justifies the belief, and her reputation gains nothing by her performance in the title part. “ Lady Gladys ” is a play which, to make it at all present- able, requires the most careful and dainty acting on the part of every person engaged in it. It demands finesse through- out, and finesse on the stage means a very careful judgment on the part of every adjunct, from leading parts to stage hands. This it does not receive in its present moulding. Miss Seligman’s part for that of a leading lady is a very small one, but what she has to do she does creditably. So much can not be said of those who support her. Crudeness and unevenness are their principal characteristics. Well played throughout “Lady Gladys” might have a reasonable success. Only fairly performed it is hardly worth sitting through. . . . EW YORK’S latest fad is what is called “ Living Pictures,” This means strong lights, a more or less. “BE GorRAN! I BEEN SITTEN HERE FOR THE LAST HOUR, * IT HAIN'T MOVED Ad artistically painted background, and women in tights posed for the figures of certain famous paintings. The possibility of these exhibitions suggests ample thought, involving Anthony Comstock, Tammany Hall, Dr. Parkhurst, Super- intendent Byrnes, the doctrine of total depravity and various other topics. . . . OW comes the close of the season of theatricals. Per- sons who wish stage amusement must flee to the joys of Eldorado or to such delights as greet the fancy at the roof gardens, The not remarkable season of 1893-94 is a thing of the past. Metcalfe. MAR : Here is a gray hair, madame, MADAME SPARKLE-EYES: Very well, pull it out. MARIE: But, madame, ten mourners will come to the funeral. MADAME SPARKLE-EY They will come in black ! Well, what does it matter ? Vs PELT: We might just as well have an under- standing about this business now as later. DRuGGIST: What is it you complain of ? VAN PeELT: I'm perfectly willing to give you my soda- water trade, but I draw the line at your showing every girl I bring in your latest and most expensive perfume. comicbooks.com