Life, 1903-03-19 · page 15 of 22
Life — March 19, 1903 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page features a romantic illustration paired with sentimental poetry—not political satire. The sketch depicts a young woman's head in profile, rendered in a soft, dreamy style typical of late 19th/early 20th-century illustration. The poem "A Day-Dream" (attributed to F.D.S.) is a conventional romantic piece praising an idealized woman: her beauty, her mysterious thoughts, her graceful demeanor. It employs flowery Victorian language ("bower of blisses," "May-dream," comparisons to Juno) and culminates in a personal declaration—the speaker is singing of someone specific to him alone. The content represents typical *Life* magazine aesthetic coverage: romantic illustration with light verse celebrating feminine beauty and courtship. There is no obvious political commentary or satirical intent—this appears to be the magazine's occasional venture into earnest romanticism rather than its usual humorous or critical mode.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
UUOLD her here, a vision Of idleness supreme; Aud see with what precision The pencil traced the drei Her throat, a bower of blisses ; Her lips, a lure for kisses ; Her eyes, the blue abysses Wherein the love-lights gleam. A Day-Dream. What tender fancies waken Behind that forehead white, Above whose dawn are shaken Her s span of night! And in those twin stars under, Kindled with love and wonder, What wealth there is to plunder, — What measureless delight! She is a matebless May-dream, A graceful, girlish thing ost in the first, sweet day-dream Of love and song and Spring : Shapely and fair as Juno, Not more than one or two know Her name; but, Sweetheart, you know It is of You I sing! FDS. comicbooks.com