Life, 1918-11-21 · page 27 of 34
Life — November 21, 1918 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical one-act play mocking excessive self-importance and theatrical pretension. A mouse rescues a woman (Clarissa) from a chair, but spends the entire encounter boasting about his noble ancestry, comparing himself to a legendary mouse-child of a mountain, and making grandiose declarations about his bravery—all while Clarissa remains terrified and unimpressed by his verbose self-aggrandizement. The satire targets pompous individuals who inflate their own significance through flowery language and exaggerated claims. The mouse's elaborate speeches about "Sans Peur" (fearlessness) and "Noblesse" contrast absurdly with his actual insignificance—he's merely a mouse making unwanted advances on Clarissa's leg before fleeing when a cat appears. The final panel's caption about a "Bad Little Boy" making a "separate peace" likely references WWI peace negotiations, though the connection remains unclear from this page alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Mouse A Study in Egotisms SS ENE: A drawing-room, Persons: Clarissa, the Mouse, Purrline. Cuanissa: Help! Help! A Mouse! Moayse: Don't be alarmed! /'m here! I hurried when I heard you scream- ChaRissa: Oh, dear! If it jumps up at me I shall expire! Movs: If I may be permitted to inquire, Why are you standing there in such a fright, Upon a chair, clutching your frock so tight \bout your Ciarissa: Help! Oh, dear! I wonder what That girl’s about! Good heavens! I forgot It’s Jane's day out. There's no one in the house But me— Mowse: Fair lady! Tam but a Mouse, A simple Mouse, but underneath this fur There beats a heart whose motto is Sans Penr. To sce a lovely female in distress ouses in me the spirit of Noblesse To her protection instantly I fly No common Mus Domesticus am 1! You mi © heard CLARISSA? li only Jane were here! What shail 1 do? Mouse: Dear lady, have no fear! As I was saying, doubtless you've heard tell How once a Mountain bore a Mouse-child. Well, J was that Child! Or rather, to be more rictly veracious, ‘twas my Ancestor; And sometimes when I dream of deeds Titanic I think that Mountain must have been Volcanic! So have no fear! 1f anyone should dare Molest you, Iam here beneath your chair, Ready to spring— Charissa: Merey! 1 wonder why It squeaks like that! It’s crazy! 1 shall die If it— Mouse: Sweet lady! Though I cannot guess From your queer speech the cause of your distress, Your voice quite meaningless to my Mouse ear, Is strangely sweet and musical and clear; And, though they violate our Leauty-laws, “E.R & * I never saw such shapely hinder paws As yours, so smooth and beautiful to see, So silky white, like sticks of celery: Upon each side a tender sprig of gold Gold as pure Cheese, and toothsome to behold-# Climbs up and up! Tis called, so I am told By Mice more versed in lady-lore, a Clock. med Dickery Dock Once, it is said, a Mouse 1 Ran up the CLARISSA: Ouch!!! Mouskt: I wonder if I dare! Only the brave deserve CLARISSA O Lord! This chair Is giving way! If it should break!—\What's that? It's Purrline’s mew! Here, Puss! Puss !— Mouse: What? T I'd love to meet him! But it’s getting late My wife’s expecting me. 1 mustn't wait! e Cat! (Exit) Purine: Me-ouw! CLARISSA! And i Did you expect the Mouse to wait all day? For all you care, I might have died of fright! My! But I'm glad it got away all right! ? that all you've got to say (Curtain.) Oliver Herford. Bad Little Boy: aw! cee! WE MAKES ME TIRED! LOOK AT HIM MAKING A SEPRATE PEACE! comicbooks.com