Life — March 22, 1923 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

LIFE Twin Bed-Time Stories Benedict and Russian Culture CENE: The bedroom of the Newleighs. In one of the twin-beds Benedict is endeavoring to go to sleep. His wife thinks differently. Mrs. Newreicu: Benedict, you simply must go with me to see the next Russian play that’s given here. Benepicr (with little enthusiasm): They’re bad enough when they're translated into English. I couldn't stand ’em in the vay they are. : Oh, but you aren't supposed to under- stand their exact words. The program tells you all about the action— Benepict: Well, bring me home a program, then, You and I'll read.that so we won't have to go. Mrs. Neweicu (coolly) : Benedict, please don’t show your ignorance! Everybody is talking about the Rus- sian plays, and you've just got to see them and like them nse. : Huh! They'd know I didn’t why I liked them. 3H (earnestly): You couldn't help liking Why, those Russians are simply You've no idea how marvelously they can if you want people to think you've any Benepict (scornfully have any, if th Mrs. New them, stupid as you are. magnificent. depict gloom. Benepict (hopelessly): Let's go to sleep, dearest. I'll be the gloomiest thing you ever saw to-morrow, and then you won't have to waste your time on those Russians. I tell you, when I go to a play I want to know what all the racket is about. I don’t want to guess at whether I like it or not. Mrs. Newtercu: Oh, but you DO know what they are il NT h \ doing. You see, these “Three Sisters” are just having a miserable time. One of them’s married, one is engaged and the other is just a hopeless old maid, and— Benepict: I follow you as far as the married one and the one about to commit matrimony, but the single one ought to be as gay as a humming bird. Mrs. NewLeicH: But, they all wish to-go to Moscow. That’s their real tragedy. Benepict: Well, why don’t they go, then? Mrs. Neweicu (doubtfully): I couldn't quite make that out. Anyway, they couldn't get there and it spoiled their lives. And then there was a really gorgeous fire. Not on the stage, of course, but you could see it through the window reflected on the clouds. Benepict (with a faint show of interest): How'd that come into the plot—to burn them ail up? Mrs. NeweiGu: No. It was just local color, I ima- gine. It didn’t play any important part in the story. But it was done BEAUTIFULLY. Benepict: Good night, dear. Mrs. Newteicu: And you'd be surprised to see how you can identify words every once in a while too. For in- stance, they keep saying something like “Lulu lumki.” «Coyly.) You'd never guess what that means. Benepict: Doesn't mean “Let's go to sleep,” by any chance, does it? Mrs. Newteicu: No, I'll tell you. for “I love you.” Benepict: No, I never would have imagined it. Turn over like a nice, good little girl, though, and I will believe you. Happy dreams. It's the Russian (Curtan.) T. H. L. i G Golfer (to chance partner, introduced simply as “Dr.” Smith): Say, Doctor, before I tackle this confounded lie,—mind telling me if you're a D. D. or an M. D.? comicbooks.com