Life, 1898-04-07 · page 12 of 20
Life — April 7, 1898 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The Follys Give a Smoke-Talk" This is a satirical illustration depicting what appears to be a crowded theatrical or entertainment venue filled with rotund figures wearing hats, smoking cigars. The caption reads "The Follys Give a Smoke-Talk. A Cracker Story is On." The satire likely mocks a specific theatrical production or entertainment event—possibly the Ziegfeld Follies or similar vaudeville show. The exaggerated rotund physiques and the emphasis on smoking suggests commentary on either audience behavior, the theatrical establishment, or public leisure culture of the early 20th century. The phrase "cracker story" is unclear in meaning without additional context. The overall tone appears to be gentle social satire rather than sharp political commentary, poking fun at theatrical entertainment and its attendees.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Letter from W. S. To my most exceltent and esteemed friend, LAPE, and to all other good, gentle my muse, most tent ouls who love greeting TRANGE times be these, good friends of mine, When, out of joint, they bring to view Our art transformed to huckster’s trade, And made to serve a pander’s need, While talent starves and genius lives un- known. Let commerce thrive. The body’s wants Come first in nature’s catalogue; But, once supplied, there comes a higher thirst, > LIFE: For draughts from the Hyperian spting, And the soul hungers for the sweets Hymettus grants to the aspiring mind. In the love we bear the mimic art I send you sympathy. In the hate We bear the enemes of art— Greed, avarice, and tawdry flimsy show; Vulgarity of thought and speech; wit; The bringing of the stage to meet the wish Of bumpkin, churl, and shallow mind— That hate [ share, and fain would aid The cause of my few, faithful friends Who war against the general fashion. I mind me now that once I said ‘The players were brief cbronicles And abstracts of the time in which They strutted their short hour Upon the stage, As yours are So may be the record of your nation; And that land, no matter what its wealth in gold, Nor its great strides in paths of trade And quickness of device to lighten labor, Goes down in the deep shade of oblivion Unless it leave behind more lasting marks low On the tablet of eternity than those which come From trader's plans and toiling of the arti- san. Brains, not hands; thoughts, more than pelt, Make for a people's truest greatness. * * * Good friends, Ict heart and courage Fail you not, till untoward times shall change And your own people to your standards flock To drive the pander, cheat, aud uncouth fool Forth from the muse’s sacred temple. Till that bright day, my heart is ever to you, And Iam your faithful, waiting friend, Will Shakspeare. A Little One’s Prayer. IAVOLO: Dear God! 0 God! make us r-r-rich—and give us lots of money—and lots to eat—and then we'll AndthenyoucangoAmen. all be saints! THE POLLYS GIVE A SMOKE-TALK. A CRACKER STORY 18 ON.