Life, 1912-06-06 · page 45 of 56
Life — June 6, 1912 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains humorous biographical anecdotes about **David Garrick's contemporary, the 18th-century actor James Quin**—a celebrated performer known for theatrical wit. The text records several apocryphal stories showcasing Quin's clever retorts and verbal sparring: - A young lawyer asks what Quin will be in old age; Quin quips he'll be "an ass" (implying the lawyer already is one) - Quin defends a woman against a Master of Ceremonies, sarcastically suggesting the official deserves hanging despite his authority - Quin wagers with poet Mallet, trapping him into either accepting a backhanded compliment or contradicting himself **The satire targets** aristocratic pretension and pomposity through Quin's sharp comebacks. For modern readers: these were celebrated as examples of wit in an era valuing clever repartee as entertainment and social skill. The page also contains unrelated period advertisements (travel fares, seasickness remedies), typical of *Life* magazine's mixed-content format.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Witty Quin Wten'the cclebrated Quin was one Sigmenting that he grew old, a pert oieg fellow sched him what he would oung as he was? “I * said Quin, “to be yer who attended the re than he did West- Je a slight ac- Quin, one night frankly ign was to come upon > should choose to 1 of a competent judge y put his design in exe- ut any more ceremony he soliloquy in Hamlet. ot to be? That is the this he uttered so very Quin could not help stion at all; T can upon my honor.” anager, had kept a poet's The poet, calling angry, Quin sent him jthe bureats ond desired him to take it. After seare for some time among qal other plays, and not finding his said Quin, “take two farce for it.” in was at Southampton naster of the ceremonies rs of the Mint, A s intance had taken ¢ sding to the opinion of the Ceremonies, improper- STOPPED after thorough tests, {s now officially ctically all the Great Lakes and New 9 Companies running south and many tr. Mothersill gave a person:1 demon- ‘oa the English Channel, Irish Sea and d unqualified endorsement from leading a8 Bishop Taylor Smith, Lord North: ctorg,, bankers and. professional men. “3 of international renown—people we much valuable information, are con- booklet which will be sent free upon nd address, teed not to contain cocaine, morphine, caal-tar products. _A soc boxis sufficient hour; $1.00 box for a Transatlantic voyage. ‘Be. ‘er Dalllmore Bldg, Chleage. Agente wanted This Summer visit the Storied Northwest, Yellowstone National Park and the North Pacific Coast. Low Summer Tourist Fares daily June 1st to September 30th. Special Convention.Fares. May 15 to 17, 27; 28; June 3 to-6, 27 to. 30; July 1 to 5, 11, 12; October 12, 14, 15: $ = To’ Pacific Coast and $ From St. Paul, Minneapolis)” return from Chicago Duluth, Superior, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Omaha. Correspondingly low fares from all points East and ‘South. $| 1 For "Yellowstone four Sa Ts Park rate includes : ite 514: days' from Liv- all meals, lodging-and fi stage ‘transportation J? ingston, Montana. the Park. Write’ for booklets about the ‘trip and service. Enclose 6 cents for “Through Wonderland,": the most beautiful book on Yellowstone ever dssiied: ‘Address and Milwaukee. ~ General Passenger Agent ly, who therefore desired her to move. But Quin interfered, saying she should not stir, and that he would be her bul- wark and defense. Whereupon the Mas- ter of the Ceremonies flew into a violent rage, saying: “Quin was nothing but a stroller and vagabond, and if it were not for his patent he would be sent to the house of correction.” “ Aye,” says Quin, “that may be, and if it were not for your patent you would be hanged.” Mr. Quin on a certain occasion was 1135, drinking a, bottle with Mallet, the poet, and having given his opinion rather too freely upon some of the bard's produc- tions, he was so out of temper that Quin could not please him in anything he said during the remainder of the evening. At length Quin. offered to wager a dozen of claret that Mallet did not contradict the next thing he said, “ What's that?” said Mallet. “Why,” replied Quin, “that you are the greatest poet in Eng- land.” comicbooks.com