Life, 1914-01-29 · page 12 of 40
Life — January 29, 1914 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes operatic culture by presenting mock recipes named after famous operas (*Pagliacci*, *Faust*, *Il Trovatore*, *Thais*, *La Gioconda*, *Tannhäuser*). Each "recipe" humorously mimics the plot or themes of its opera—for example, *Pagliacci* mentions a "clown," while *Faust* references a "Mephistophelian ballad" and a "love-sick girl." The lower cartoon uses a mathematical equation format to satirize marriage: a well-dressed couple plus vices like "deceit, jealousy, selfishness" minus a cherub (cupid/love) equals a legal document (divorce decree). This critiques matrimony as inevitably ending in dissolution when vice overcomes romance—a commentary on marriage's fragility in early 20th-century society. The satire is genteel but pointed.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
oo hl ca oa The Operatic Cook-book T Pagliacci EAT a large bass drum with the white of one clown, Then mix with a Prologue and roll very thin; Fill with a circus just coming to town, One leer, one scowl and one tragical grin. Bake in a sob of Carusian size, Result—the most toothsome of Italy's pies. Faust This is a devilish spicy little salad, Of which the sauce and contents both are strong. You start with a Mephistophelian ballad, Then add a student and a jewel-song. Complete the dish with one fair, love-sick girl, A soldier's chorus and a plot distressing ; Stir with hell-fire and angels in a whirl, And serve with Gounod’s best dressing. imported Il Trovatore A dry, wooden cast and a large, roaring fire — These two things are just about all you require. Keep the blaze going, and throw in, meanwhile, Such tunes as you'd like to have ‘cooked picnic style: An old Azucena, a young Leonora, A mushy Manrico, her tenor adorer, A chorus of anvils, an overdone count— Proportions don’t matter—use any amount. Serve on green sticks with paprica de Verdi, Or grind to a pulp through a plain hurdy-gurdy. DECEIT JEALOUSY Thais One lump of monk, quite pure and fairly cold, One luscious Alexandrine peach, all pink, One Nicias, partly stewed, and flush with gold, Some Massenet syrup, just too thick to drink: Served with a dessert-spoon of “ Meditation,” This makes a very sweet French preparation. La Gioconda This is a very foreign dish, Italian, one might say, The names of the ingredients alone would cause dismay: A Barnaba, a Cieca, a Laura and Alvise, (If you have been in Italy, these words are fairly easy). But think of a Giudecca and an Enzo di Romano, With “Cielo e Mar” added to a gallon of Orfano! If boiled for many hours, this will make a tasty jelly, Especially when served with some whipped cream of Ponchielli. Tannhéuser No matter what the title makes you think, This is good solid food and not a drink; One German Wartburg Sangerkrieg, One bunch of fresh-cut Pilgerchor, One Venusberg Intemperance League, One “holder Abendstern” or more. When mixed in large, melodious, Wagnerian lumps, and fried, This makes a dish in which the Germans well may take a pride. Sigmund Spacth. MATRIMONIAL