Life, 1897-12-04 · page 13 of 34
Life — December 4, 1897 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous poem with accompanying illustration about a flirtatious young woman at a social gathering (Miss Van Tweedle's tea). The piece satirizes the romantic conventions of Edwardian courtship. "She" is a beautiful, charming woman who collects the hearts of admirers—Billy, Ben, and Bobby—treating romance like a hobby or collecting game rather than genuine emotion. The narrator describes her "collector's skill" and "keen insistence," suggesting she pursues romantic conquests systematically and persistently. The joke is that the narrator himself falls victim to her charms despite recognizing her pattern, surrendering his heart to join her "collection." The satire gently mocks both the woman's predatory flirtatiousness and the men's helpless susceptibility to her charms—a commentary on the artificial romantic games of polite society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HE was a beauty, blithe and blonde, I met her down at Miss Van Tweedle's; Her fascinating smile was fond, Her eye was brighter than a beadle’s. The men who hung about her there— She called them Billy, Ben and Bobby— All had a most adoring air; Collecting hearts—that was her hobby ! Hers was the true collector's skill, The true collector's keen insistence ; Not long could one against her will, Howe'er determined, make resistance My heart? you ask. Ah, woe is me! ‘Tis gone—to my supreme defection ; For down at Miss Van Tweedle’s tea She added it to her collection ! Irving Gilmore. es Nan tance —_——, a = ™~ comichooks.con