Life, 1895-02-14 · page 3 of 18
Life — February 14, 1895 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of "Sweetheart" Page This page presents a romantic poem titled "ITS MISSION" addressed to "Her" — likely a sweetheart or romantic interest. The elaborate decorative border (left side) and ornamental header are typical of *Life* magazine's aesthetic style from the early 1900s. The poem uses courtly, Victorian language, asking the recipient to guess the speaker's name and promising devotion ("I am youre Valentyne"). The lower illustration labeled "A MEMORY OF OTHER DAYS" shows an interior scene, possibly depicting a romantic or nostalgic moment. Rather than political satire, this page appears to be sentimental romantic content — typical of *Life*'s mixture of humor, social commentary, and lighter fare. The elaborate ornamentation reflects period publishing standards for literary pages.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
4 Dial] P tol sired, © \LASK oril ¢ E. 9 ITS MISSION. POINT: : OE littel verse, goe to Her strayte ; Thenne speake Her quicke & toe Her saye Le Telle Her not wh'nce you cayme, “She isse soe sweete & faire” — DESIRF r Ne falterre not, Ne hesitayte, Beseeche Her not toe turne awaye, iz See an’ She guesse my nayme, Be bolderre an’ you daire ! y And gif She frowne, then seeme you sadde, Vpon Her Heart knocke hard & din, B, 3 ( f And gif She smyle, be gaye ; E’en as She knockes on myne ; ew yi : fa She maie, perchaunce, who knowes? be gladde Cry—Openne! Openne ! Lette me in, Z To greete you onne Ys daye ! Tam youre Valentyne !” . ¢ DEL aa fe “SOF NGF OFFS SSE ODS SEOH4H! -See8* A MEMORY OF OTHER DAYS. SOG ooE comicbooks.com