Life, 1904-02-04 · page 9 of 36
Life — February 4, 1904 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 107 This page contains two distinct pieces: **"A Valentine" (poem by Villanelle):** A romantic poem dedicated to an unnamed woman, illustrated with a sketch of a woman's profile. The verse expresses devotion, comparing her qualities to natural imagery (May rain, myrrh). It's a conventional Valentine's tribute with no apparent satire. **"The Billionaire's Progress" (by W.D. Nesbit):** A satirical verse using ironic logic to critique wealth accumulation. As a man grows richer—from $1,000 to $1 billion—his friendships proportionally disappear, until at the peak of wealth he has only two friends left and is utterly unhappy. The final couplet: a man's only true friend is himself. This mocks the isolating effects of extreme wealth and the transactional nature of friendships among the wealthy. The accompanying heart illustration labeled "A Heart Full of Love" provides romantic counterpoint.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
FE HIS—a valentine to her Who, unknowing, hath possessed Ml my beart—her worshipper. A VALENTINE. Villanelle. Oh, her laugh is like the stir ain where violets lentine to her, And her voice is sweet as With vague dreams Not for me to wake her—blur This—a valentine to her. Unknown would I minist So, a nameless This—a valent The Billionaire’s Progress. \ 7 HEN he had nothing, he had a thonsand friends. i By dint of industry and some little scheming, he managed to get together $10,000, and at the same time lost five hundred of his friend: By the time he had * hundred friends, When the $100,000 grew to $1,000,000, his list of friends had deer to fifty. When he could count $100,000,000, he had only two vnds left 0),000,000 mark he celebrated by observing that a only friend was himself. When he achieved his billion, he was so sore on himself that he was unhappy ever after. 90000, he had dropped all but Ase fr man’s W.D. Neshit. 8 oO Ml my heart her worshipper. That girl calmness of her breast ; To her shrine my mute heart's best— All my heart her worshipper Comes this song to be her guest. All my heart her worshipper. 107 re: myrrh— yet uncontessed er wanderer ine to her, Theodosia Garrison, comicbooks.com