Life, 1909-06-03 · page 54 of 56
Life — June 3, 1909 — page 54: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a promotional page advertising a special issue of *Life* magazine devoted to flirtation and romantic comedy. The cherub illustrations represent Cupid—the classical symbol of love and romance. The page uses gendered humor typical of early 20th-century American satire, addressing men and women separately with stereotypical scenarios: bachelors, old maids, straying husbands, and frivolous women seeking attention. The premise is that reading stories about flirtation will either educate readers on romantic tactics or provide cautionary entertainment about the consequences of romantic entanglement. The tone is lighthearted mockery of courtship conventions—particularly the tension between flirtation as harmless fun versus its potential to cause emotional damage ("broken heart"). The "Help wanted" caption suggests the magazine itself needs assistance capturing these romantic scenarios. This reflects *Life*'s role as satirical commentary on American social manners and relationships.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“m monarch of all I survey.” FLIRTS’ ‘NUMBER OF LIFE NEXT WEEK r * Is it hot enough for you?” This is what Life means to me." Are you a wily old bachelor? Are you a delightful old maid? Are you a married man looking for trouble? Are you a frivolous lady with designs on many an idle heart? Read this number of LIFE, and be c npensated for everything that has happened. To Ladies, Flirting is an art that no one would presume to teach you. Bat inasmuch as every true artist likes to know the work of other artists, we invite your attention to this number of LIFE. Doubtless what happens to others will edify you and show you that after ali, flirting is capable of many interpreta- tions. To flirt, to spoon—aye, there's the rub, for in the moon light, sailing on the waters, what ties may come, what wed- ding bells may peal—must give us pause. In the meantime, you will find a perusal of this number of LIFE perfectly safe. It cheers but does not i criminate, If you are a subscriber to Liex you miss nose of thee good things. Help wanted. To Gentlemen. Not every man knows how to flirt. Just when you think you have learned, some nice, sweet, demure, innocent young thing comes along that as you gaze upon her makes you hate to bear the thought that she may fall in love with you, and her young life saddened by an awful de spair. Then as she looks at you occasionally with a demure twinkle, you begin to fe strange, gone sense, and—it's all over. She's got you—you've swallowed the bait, line, sinker and hook. Now, do you want to guard against all this? Just get the Flirts’ numoer of LIFE, and be insured against a broken heart. Price in the United States and the American Pomessions, $5.00; Canada, $5.52; abroad, $6.04. comicbooks.com