Life, 1883-02-08 · page 8 of 16
Life — February 8, 1883 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "To Cupid" by Rondeau — Life Magazine, February 14, 1883 This Valentine's Day satirical poem mocks the conventions of romantic love letters and courtship. A young man (shown at bottom right) appeals to Cupid for help composing flowery declarations to win his lady's heart—requesting instruction on how to "make each sentence shine" and craft modest yet persuasive language. The joke lies in the contradiction: he's asking Cupid (the god of love, depicted above with cherubs) to teach him how to write *sincere* love poetry, when his request itself reveals his verses will be calculated artifice rather than genuine emotion. The elaborate illustration of Cupid among swirling clouds emphasizes the absurdity of expecting divine intervention for romantic authenticity.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
TO CUPID. RONDEAU. UPID, tell me how to twine Words like roses in a line, Fit my lady’s eyes to greet, For her red lips to repeat That her heart may fathom mine. How to make each sentence shine— Love with modest speech combine— How to set her heart a-beat— Cupid, tell me! Tell me, may I dare to sign All the love and fancies fine— All the thoughts and secrets sweet, That I lay before her feet ? Does she love her Valentine? Cupid, tell me ! FEBRUARY 14th, 1883. comicbooks.com