Life, 1912-08-15 · page 12 of 40
Life — August 15, 1912 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a theatrical sketch about small-town corruption. The "Head Gambler" is caught in a raid and demands compensation from local officials, threatening to expose them publicly. The satire targets municipal government: the Mayor is "busy making speeches," the Chief of Police is evasive, and the Prosecuting Attorney is powerless—all suggesting officials are complicit in or indifferent to gambling operations. The sketch mocks how small towns allegedly tolerated vice while maintaining appearances of respectability. The gambler's ability to shake down the entire power structure suggests corruption runs deep. The separate item, "The New Aesop," is a brief fable about a fox unable to reach grapes, rationalizing his failure—a commentary on sour grapes rationalization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
te ae ~ ss Chorus: 0—On, YOU NAUGHTY Boys! WE KNOW WHO IT 15 Heap Gamarer: You've got to fit out some more of our places; during one of those make believe raids you had recently some of our property was injured. You've got to pay for that by giving us a complete new outfit. Cuter: Look here! This thing has gone far enough I am going to turn honest. I will appeal to the Mayor. Heap Gamoter: Ha! That's funny. The Mayor! making speeches and nursing his grouch. Cuter: Then I'll appeal to the people. Heap Gamarer: People. My eye! They're a lot of dubs, all right; they'll submit to anything from us, but they wouldn't believe you! (Advancing.) Do you know, old pal, I've half a mind to cut your throat. Tue Orners: Yes, yes, that’s what we came for. Ciier: Oh, please don’t! I'll do anything you. say. T'i— (The head gambler dr: too quick for him. Th the chief. He falls.) ProsecutinG Attorney (entering): Gentlemen, gentle- men, tut, tut; this is carrying a joke too far. Heap Gaatuter: What did you say? Prosecutinc Attorney: Oh, nothing, I assure you! Heav Gamater (grabbing him): Boys, shall we do him? Tur Boys: No, no. He's all right. Good morning, Mr. Mayor. Mayor (entering): Good morning everybody. Hello! What's this? Another murder? Dear me, this must really stop. It’s injuring the fair fame of our village. Newspaper Reporter (entering): Anything doing? Heap Gamater (eagerly): Yes. We've just killed the ws his knife, but the others are pen up their guns and shoot He's with us «LJP E * Here's Chief of Police. my photograph. Reporter: Um. Is that all? Sorry, boys, but our readers want something new. If anything happens around here of real interest, just let me know and I'll put my boss wise. S'long (exit whistling). Heap Gamnter (solemnly, to his companions): Boys, it's no use! We've got to move away from this one-horse town and go where there's some life. Nothing happens here any more. Believe me, it’s full of dead ones. (Curtain) Can't you give us a write up? T. L. M. The New Aesop FOX one day saw some bunches of grapes hanging high on a wall by the road side. He made several attempts to get them, but, jump as high as he could, they were beyond his reach, Finally he gave up the attempt and, he went away, he said to himself: “ This is the greatest disappointment of my life. Those grapes don't really look so very good, but if I can’t reach them, they must be better than Iam. I do wish I could break into some exclusive set like that.” Miss Democracy: SOMETHING TELLS ME I'M TO BE KISSED AGAIN comicbooline m