Life, 1894-09-06 · page 11 of 16
Life — September 6, 1894 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 155 The main cartoon depicts a chaotic picnic scene where adults and children sprawl among food and scattered items. The caption reads: "HEY THERE! I SENT YOU UP THAT TREE TO PICK APPLES, NOT TO SHAKE 'EM. I'LL-I-M SORRY B-B-BOSS B-BUT M-MY CHILLS COME O-ON A DAY E-E-EARLY." This satirizes childhood mischief and parental frustration—a child sent to pick apples has instead shaken them down (likely ruining them). The stutter in the child's apology adds comedic effect. The accompanying text reviews a theatrical production called "The Victoria Cross," criticizing the lead actor Mr. Southern's comedic performance as unimpressive. The dialogue snippets mock overly formal English speech patterns among Americans. The smaller cartoon titled "The United Press" and "Southern Exposure" depict additional satirical commentary on American social pretensions and regional behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Hey THERE! I SENT YOU UP THAT TRE TO PICK APPLES, NOT TO SHAKE 'EM,” “L-L-T-at-a SORRY B-B-ROSS B-BUT M-MY CHILLS C-COME O-ON A DAY E-E-EARLY.” course, the hero, and naturally enough is supplied with a lot of soft snaps in the way of heroic actions. Notwithstanding this manifest advantage he is not impressive as a hero, and the pose rather interferes with his trying to be funny. There is no reason to infer from this performance that he has improved artistically. The same fog is Present in his elocution, and his English brogue instead of diminishing seems to thrive on his long residence in America. We believe that Mr. Sothern has genuine ability as a polite comedian, but he seems willing to rest content with moderate attainment. The other members of the company do only fairly well with only fair material. Next to Mr. Sothern’s, the most conspicuous part is that assigned to Mr. Rowland Buckstone. On the program it is listed as ‘‘Cossim Beg, a Persian bearer.” We are not versed in the dialect of ‘ Persian bearers,” so when we say that Mr. Buckstone’s dialect sounds more like the Oriental patois of a Mott street Chinaman than that of any “Persian bearer” we ever met, we are confessing our own ignorance and not reflecting on his work. We admit, however, that when it comes toa question of under- standing what is said we prefer the Chinaman. Miss Grace Kimball, who has the leading female part, is pretty and graceful, which is about all the draft Mr. Potter has made on her abilities. The aid of some one who knows how to enunciate English would help all hands employed in speaking this piece. No one looks to the Lyceum for plays which shall revolutionize the modern stage, and “ The Victoria Cross” is in this respect no departure from its standard. Afetcalfe. SOUTHERN EXPOSURE. ANXIOUS TO KNOW. OMMY: Pa, what's ma cry- ing for? FatTner: She can’t find her teeth, “Is that the reason the baby cries so much?” THEL: I don’t believe in marrying young ; do you? EpitH: No—that is, not too young. ETHEL: When I think of it, it scems hardly possible that my mother was married before I was born. Epitn: Good gracious! Is your mother that old ? “THE UNITED PRESS.” 4 | | | | |