Life, 1899-12-28 · page 15 of 21
Life — December 28, 1899 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct pieces of satire: **"Two Varieties" (Main Article):** A comparison of opera versus Boston Symphony Orchestra audiences. The text satirizes opera-goers as primarily interested in displaying themselves—their jewels and clothing—rather than genuinely appreciating music. By contrast, Symphony audiences "never talk" and actually listen. The satire suggests opera is superficial spectacle masquerading as high culture, while the Symphony represents authentic musical appreciation. This reflects early 20th-century class anxieties about what constitutes "real" culture. **"First Explorer" Cartoon (Bottom):** Depicts two explorers in Arctic conditions. One expresses concern about dwindling champagne and cigars, while his companion reassures him a relief party arrives soon. The joke satirizes wealthy explorers' priorities—they're more worried about luxury provisions than actual survival. This mocks both the frivolousness of wealthy expeditions and the absurd notion that even in extreme hardship, the privileged maintain their comforts.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thoro wero giants in the earth In those days.— Gen. vi, 4, TTPHE audiences at the opera and tho audiences at the concerts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra form an in- teresting contrast. The opera is primarily a spectacular show, with good music thrown in, Tho audience is also a spectacular show, with a few lovers of music thrown In, When tho spectacle grows dull, a majority of tho audience study one another and indulge in pleasant converse. At the Boston Symphony concerts tho audience nover talks, It listens. At the opera, the audienco itself being on exhibition, dresses and behaves accordingly. It enjoys the contemplation of itself, its Jewels and its raiment even more at times than it enjoys thestage. This is legitimate, as enjoyment is tho object of the expedition, The opera itself—tho performance on the stage—Is frankly artificial, This arti- ficlality, while innocent and not to bo despised, explains, perhaps, why so many people who love music for music itself prefer tho concerts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to the grandest of grand opera, Geo Parson First Prplorer: W® ARE IN TERRIBLE STRAITS. THR SUPPLY OP CHAMPAGNE IX KEDUCED TO ‘THIRTEEN CASES, TOE CIGARS ARE NRARLY GONE, AND THE MINERALOGIST 18 HALP DEAD Witt ovr. “CHEER UP, OLD MAN, THE THIRD RELIEP PARTY 18 DUE THIS MONTH." comichooks.cong