Life, 1893-02-16 · page 6 of 16
Life — February 16, 1893 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This page is primarily a **satirical advertisement** rather than a political cartoon. It advertises "Cupid's Stores," a fictional Valentine's Day marketplace offering "love maidens" for sale at the "Temple of Hymen" (marriage). The satire mocks commercialization of romance and marriage by presenting love as a commodity. The accompanying verses mock both romantic idealism ("True love lightens earthly burdens") and the transactional nature of courtship, asking "Would you wed a maid or widow?" and suggesting one should "buy with love a maiden." The illustration shows a fashionable woman in period dress alongside a cherub, emphasizing the commercialized aesthetics of romantic love. The overall joke targets how capitalist society commodifies even intimate human relationships and emotions, particularly marriage for men seeking wives.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GREAT ANNUAL’ SAEE © AT THE © TEMPLE OF, HYMEN,, ; SAINTS VALENTINES DAY _ NES SARI uplc'’s Stores ------ - - - + Are Roads to Ri | 1 Special Sale of Hearts ! | To-day. rand Display of Grace and Beauty. | |Loving Maidens! Given Away. Sirs, we claim your best attention to our newest, sweetest brand ue FAIREST OF THE WORLD'S FAIR BEAUT WOULD-BE WIVES OF EV Y LAND. ‘True love lightens carthly burdens ; Hearts for hearts we give in change ; Ev'ry joy that Truth can garner Comes within Love's arrows’ range. JUST ARRIVED. A brand new grade of tend’rest love-inspiring darts, Which, if flung by earnest suitors, Pierce e’en apathetic hearts. Would you wed a maid or widow ? Gather round this very day ; Mark the Feast of sweet St. Val'ntine In the most appropriate way. Stop and view our choicest beauties ; Hymen’s stock's on view to-day Ne'er since we were ** Love's purveyors,” Had we such a sweet display. Judge and price our beaux ideals, Such a bevy ne er was seen ; Venus, Hebe, and the Graces Vale beside their dainty mien ! Will you buy with love a maiden ? Cupid's special sales to-day ; Each affects the tender passion, All look sweet in Love's array ! comicbooks.com