Life, 1883-07-12 · page 3 of 16
Life — July 12, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Vae Victis" - Life Magazine, July 12, 1883 This page presents a poem titled "Vae Victis" (Latin: "Woe to the Vanquished") depicting a woman in an elaborate dress holding a fan, surrounded by decorative cherubs and floral borders. The ornamental frame contains romantic imagery—cupids, crosses, and classical figures engaged in various activities. The poem describes a flirtatious woman who dismisses her suitor's romantic devotion with lighthearted cruelty, ending with her parting words: "Love's fickle,—and the world is wide!" This appears to be social satire targeting 1880s courtship customs and female autonomy. The elaborate, ornate presentation mocks the romanticized idealization of women while simultaneously portraying female independence—the woman casually rejecting love's constraints. The satire likely comments on changing gender dynamics of the period.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOL. Il. NO. 28. VAE VICTIS. HE hummed beneath her breath and dreamily Gay bits of ballad and romance, And where her cheek just rounded creamily A lurking dimple peeped askance. She swayed a fluffy fan provokingly Before the mischief of her eyes, te And bade me recollect, half-jokingly, Who tilts with Love, Love-conquered dies. She said farewell, and said it pettishly, Yet viewed my broken heart with pride And added, dallying coquettishly— “Love's fickle,—and the world is wide !” M. E,W. comicbooks.com