Life, 1912-07-25 · page 15 of 41
Life — July 25, 1912 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes Russian literature and revolutionary politics through absurdist theatrical parody. The "play" mocks Tolstoy, Turgenev, and other celebrated Russian authors by presenting a crude sketch of Russian peasant life filled with intentionally mangled pseudo-Russian dialogue (vodkarichski, caviar-money, etc.). The plot—peasants robbing a wealthy traveler—appears to lampoon socialist rhetoric about redistributing wealth from the rich. The final exchange reveals the satire's bite: the peasants declare they'd never surrender their own riches if roles reversed, exposing the hypocrisy of revolutionary ideology that preaches equality while driven by self-interest. The sidebar article "What We Need" extends this critique to American politics, sarcastically calling for crowds "able to resist the encroachments of steadfast men"—likely referencing contemporary debates over populism versus elite authority. The illustration depicts a crowded beach scene, unrelated to the Russian play text.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Tolstoy Lyof Metchnikof. by Potemkin Korsake cs by Rimski Turgeniegf Veresi- Holworthy- chagin. Translation — by CTLARACTERS, Snitchovitch.... peasant chis wife stheir child Droschke... a passerby Hut of Snitchovitch in Samovar is asleep. How vghcdld the Scene. Siberia. Droscu schuzsknow is! Snitcnovitcn : Yes, and the kvolg- hice is vghcolder than it was last vost- winter. Droscuké: Oh, how I hateski, hate- ski, hateski the aristiffstocracy! They keep bgkrwarm all vostwinter. Sxircnovitcn (standing on nis own feet): Yes, there is one chcurious thing about the richnikoff. Droscuké: And that is? Sxitcnovitcu: They — khivalways have phtzmoney. Droscuké: And what poor dmitropeopleovitch ? Snitcuoviten: They also petrépos- sess one characterisgoloffteristic. Droscuxé: And that is? Snitcnovitcn: They have no ca- viarmoney at all! Samovar (waking) : Krichniholgész kihilitznigorod! about the ON THE BEACH Whishkbroomski A Play cn One Act Droscnké: The poor nijninfant is sezhiingryovsk, SNitcnovitcu: Well, give him some horisfood. Droscuké: There is none, dlasvoy- temkin! Syitcnovitcn (goes to window Here comes Ikon—he is vodkarichski. He probably has moneyruble with him. Dsoscuké: What of thatska? Snitcnovitcn: Go and miaslovarob him, We gottaski stand for the squaredealovitch (Droseuk es and robs him.) Ikon: Hélpska, hélpska! Snitcnovitcn (lighting his knout) + Allovar! Ixos (faintly): Politzei, adimow- ski! Droscuké (returning) : Here is his plintavolgawallet. Samovar (feebly): Krévla névskiprospekt! Snitcnovitcn: That’s the kvway to zxlisettle the richnikoff—take their caviarmoney away from them. Droscrxé: But khrishnisuppose you and I got richnikoff. Would we want anybody to zhwytake away our caviar- money? Sxitcnovitcn: No, that's vlidivos- ent Droscuké: All ménjhoff are petro- brothers. Syitcnovitcn: Only on Mondayski Wednésdayska and Sundayski, T is VFridaychik, And that Vladimiquestion of sozhcial equahrelity is slezettled, the playgorod (bowing to audience) is finished. What dic iskystexpect for a zschnickle? He ESP: What We Need “QTEADFAST men are needed in public life s Supreme Court Justice Pitney, “men able to resist the tumult of the crowd.” And we also need a steadfast crowd —a crowd able to resist the encroach- ments of steadfast men. now STILL ANOTHER CASE WHERE TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE