Life, 1894-10-25 · page 12 of 14
Life — October 25, 1894 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 270 This page contains two distinct satirical pieces: **"The Reason Why"** (top left): A sentimental poem about a man's contentment—his lover has returned from a three-month absence. The satire is gentle, poking fun at romantic sentimentality and how love makes life seem perfect. **"An Eye to Business"** (main story): A frame-narrative satire set in an Oriental court. A foreign theater-goer complains to a Cadi (Islamic judge) about being brutally beaten by theater staff. His offense: he hissed at performers—once to discourage bad jokes ("chestnuts"), and once during a sentimental song. The satire mocks American theater audiences and performers. It suggests that theaters prioritize profit and crowd-pleasing sentiment over quality, and that audiences who dare criticize (hiss) face violent retaliation from theater management protecting their investment. The "Eastern" setting was a common literary device for social commentary in this era, allowing criticism of American society under a fictional guise.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE REASON WHY. HY are the cares of life so few? What makes the sky so clear a blue? What magic gilds the Avenue? T mutely question. And why are all things changed to me ? I'm not bequeathed a legacy, Nor is it just a case—per se— Of sound digestion. This is the cause of my content Last evening to her house I went— She's been away on pleasure bent Three months and over— And now she’s home again, and bland, Sweet, smiling, with imprisoned hand, She's given me to understand— Well, I'm in clover ! HAT aileth the son of Shitan?” asked the Cadi as Mustapha led before him a man whose black- ened eyes, bloodied nose and wrecked attire showed that he had come up against circumstances that were too powerful for him. “ Justice, justice,” cried the man as he threw himself on his face close to the carpet of audience; justice, oh, most high fountain of wisdom!" “Get up, you Giaour,” replied the Cadi, “and tell us what is the matter.” “ Know, your highness,” the man said, as he with difficulty rose to his feet, “that last night I, a stranger within the walls of your city,did set out to seek amusement. I chanced —— - upon a place called a theatre. Therein I enter- ed after paying the required shekel and a half "—— “And have had experience,” the Cadi. “But | wasn’t looking for experience, oh, father of justice. Soon there came upon the stage a performer who pleased me greatly. I as well as the others showed our you seem to that much interrupted “On ABRAHAM'S BOSOM.” | wu >> AN EYE TO BUSINESS. “Hey, Cimmy, How's Dat EXTRYS WID?" FOR A T’ROAT TER HOLLER approval by clapping of the hands and stamping of the feet, thereby creating much uproar, so much that for several minutes the performance could not continue.” “And for this they decorated your lineaments in the bizarre fashion I behold ?” “Oh, no, most gracious highness. performer who asked among other things when a bed was To him succeeded a not a bed. Now this saying is an ancient one in mine own country, and there we do not pay a shekel and a half to hear the gems of antiquity produced for original and sparkling humor. So } hissed at the performer to show that his saying was a chestnut,” “ Do you not know, Giaour, that in our country we would feel homesick and lonely at a show which did not serve chestnuts? But continue thy tale.” “When I hissed an usher came to me and told me to desist. Then another performer sang a song called ‘Two Little Girls in Blue,’ which was a favorite with my mother-in-law, so that she sang it all last year, and hissed again. Then came to me the owner of the theatre, and six ushers, and the gas man and the ticket-taker, and they dragged me from my seat and they pounded me and jumped on me in solos and choruses. Then they cast me comicbooks.com