Life, 1896-12-10 · page 11 of 20
Life — December 10, 1896 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Her Choice" This illustration accompanies a poem by Elisa Calvert Hall about romantic choice and sacrifice. The image depicts a couple in an elegant classical setting—a man in dark formal dress and a woman in an ornate gown—in an intimate moment beneath an archway. The poem's central conceit asks what a woman would do "if you had wings," suggesting escape or transcendence. Her answer—"No angel, but a woman true"—reveals the satirical point: rather than choosing heavenly freedom or independence, she chooses to remain with her male companion, staying earthbound in romantic devotion. This reflects early 20th-century gender expectations, where a woman's ultimate fulfillment was defined by romantic attachment rather than autonomy. The "satire" gently mocks both sentimental romance and women's limited choices.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fin SHH HER CHOICE. x H ER face was like a missaled saint's Against the sunsct’s gold and red; An aureole scemed her shining hair And eve's first star gleamed o'er her head. On that far height we stood alone, And as her pure eyes heavenward dreamed, Between a woman and a man How measureless the distance seemed! What message was she sending to The heavenly host that soars and sings? I spoke the thought that pierced my heart, “What would you do, if you had wings?” Ab, vain my anxious doubts and fears— No angel, but a woman truc ! “If Lhad wings,” she softly said, “Id fold them close and stay with you.” Eliza Calvert Hall. LT EES RS CUNT PSB oh NS da P comicbooks.com