Life — January 25, 1923 — page 35: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“BRING ME A MINSTREL!” said the Kings of old, from William the Conqueror to Henry the Sap, after dinner, or at tea- time on a rotten afternoon—whenever, in fact, they were bored (and they WERE bored). HEREUPON, the min- W verel would step forth and regale the royal audience with song and story. And what songs and stories they were! For the minstrels were the travelling salesmen of the middle ages and if there was anew one about the two Irishmen, they knew it. They collected everything while it was hot, and passed it on to His Majesty. It was pretty soft for the King. What, Mr. Plain American Citizen, of you? Aren’t you a King? Sure you are, to a certain extent. At this point the strains of Yankee Doodle are heard. ... In the last analysis you are the person who said Mr. Chaplin should go on the public payroll at a million a year. You are the tough monarch who summons the men of thearts to kneel at the foot of your Period Throne, while you slap them on the back and say, “Boy, you are there’—the modern equiva- lent of “I dub thee knight.” But civilization and headwaiters have done odd things to your nerve. You’ll cheer these men of the arts—but you don’t think of having them paged for your special-benefit performance. Well, why Why not arrange, next Tuesday, don’t you? after dinner, to move into the living-room with a few choice spir- its, and after comparing recipes for a while, temark—“ Bring me a minstrel!” At that moment Maxfield Parrish will appear and show you a new drawing he made—for you. Rather an event in the old cottage, what? But wait: The next number on your program is a pretty recitation, with sugar and lemon, by little Dorothy Parker. She will be followed by two playwrights, and when we suggest playwrights, we mean successes—Mare Connelly and George Kauf- man (they wrote Dulcy and To the Ladies) and they’ll do a team act. They wrote it. A fair start for the evening? Charles Dana Gibson will do a Gibson girl for you. James Montgomery Flagg will make a few sardonic cracks, Ray- mond M. Crosby will draw some of his tame wildwomen, Robert C. Benchley and Gluyas Williams will present- ly have the scullions and visiting cavalry in secondary apoplexy, Robert E. Sherwood will deliver a wholesome description of Hollywood, the Editor will ride and deride a few pet hobbies, and Sullivant, Shaver, Irvin, Hanemann, Frost, Morgan, Montague Glass, Oliver Herford and the rest of the real minstrels—the ones you have crowned—will just sit around and do their best to give you their best. How about it— a little better than Radio? It would bea party. Who said “would be”? CAN be! Are you a King or are you not? Does that sort of party stir the regal blood in you or leave you alone? Would it cheer matters up at the house, King— _ say, every Tuesday? We come now _Notonce will the toastmaster to a little matter ‘“regretthe inability of so-and- of business ... soto attend”; not once will a flat tire rattle along on the rim for an hour of talk—this is to be your party, run the way you want it run. You are the toast- master. You are The Works. One dollar. ' LIFE. Bring me a minstrel, once a week, for 10 weeks, (Special rate for Kings) $1.00. (Canadian, $1.20. Foreign, $1.40.) Sign here 598 Madison Avenue, New York King... King’s name. 266 King’s palace Long live the King! King’s address..... ———— ee —————e—E—=EaoEEE OD comicbooks.com