Life, 1894-09-13 · page 10 of 16
Life — September 13, 1894 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine contains a theatrical sketch and drama column. The cartoon depicts a social scene where Miss Beacon asks Miss Labrside if Mr. Jowler is interesting; the reply is that he "sits on the far end of the sofa and talks"—a joke about boring conversation partners who monopolize discussion without engaging others. The main article reviews "The Little Trooper," a light opera starring Della Fox. The critic notes Fox was famous for playing "tough" female roles despite her small stature, establishing her reputation early in her career. The review acknowledges her popularity while assessing her performance neutrally—she succeeds without distinction, possessing "personal magnetism" but lacking the vocal excellence required for truly great light-opera work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Miss Beacon; Miss Lakeside: “THE LITTLE TROOPER” T has always seemed to Lire that Miss Della Fox was a little bit coarse in her methods; that in storming the affections of the public she used more bricks than delicatessen. king voice, which grates upon the refined ear, has something to do with this, but we think that her mistake dates from her earliest appearances, ‘idently some one at the start of her career impressed her with the belief that in a little woman on the stage rowdyism and a “tough” bearing were attractive, But there are different ways of expressing toughness, and Miss Fox does not seem to have seized upon Is THAT MR, JOWLER INTERESTING ? No; HE SITS ON THE PAR END OF THE SOFA AND TALKS. the right one. Lotta could do it, and without offence. She has had many imitators but no successful ones, But these facts have little bearing. If you want a receipt for that popular mystery known to the world asa light- opera goddess, you have got to go back of reason, There ul light-opera prima-donnas who couldn't sing, and others who couldn't act. The public seems to have no exact standard for this work, and its former favorites have held their places through no uniformity of cause, Therefore, one can assign no set explanation to Miss Fox's undoubted popularity with the public. As against the defect we have noted, it can be truly said that she is personally attractive, that she sings well enough to meet the require- ments of light opera, that she is vivacious, and that she possesses considerable of that mysterious quality known as personal magnetism. She also has in her favor a well- advertised career of some length and a woeful lack of competition in her line of work. In * The Little Trooper,” Miss Fox does not distinguish herself greatly, nor does she fall below what was to have comicbooks.com