Life, 1910-03-03 · page 51 of 80
Life — March 3, 1910 — page 51: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects humorous verses previously published in *Life* magazine over 25 years, showcasing the publication's satirical take on romance and courtship—central concerns of late-19th-century American society. The poems mock romantic conventions: "The Unattainable" suggests that unattainable women are most desirable; "The Inconstant" depicts a woman's serial infidelities; "Old Friends" pokes fun at aging women trying to appear youthful; and "Love's Lesson" suggests a woman's boldness disappears once she removes her veil (implying she used it to mask her true self or create mystery). The accompanying Victorian-era illustrations show couples in romantic scenarios. The satire targets both male romantic delusion and female duplicity—common *Life* magazine themes that reflected anxieties about courtship, marriage, and changing gender roles in the Gilded Age. The humor is genteel and somewhat cynical about love's promises.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*“LIFE* Life’s Historical Supplement The eight pages that fol notable things published in Live during the past 25 years. "Open. P ondoa; §, bt Britain sph JULY 4, The Unattainable OM'’S album was filled with the pictures of belles Who had captured his manly heart, From the fairy who danced for the front-row swells To the maiden who tooled her cart; But one face as fair as a cloudless dawn Caught my eye, and I said, “ Who's this?” “Oh, that,’ he replied with a skillful yawn, “Is the girl I couldn't kiss.”" Her face was the best in the book, no doubt, But I hastily turned the leaf, For my friend had let his cigar go out, And I know I had bared his grief; contain certain The Inconstant (This little piece of verse has y been sung oftener than ever published by an rican periodical, With slight ations it was sung for years by Miss Della Fox.) I PRETTY girl, A summer night, A moon— Impassioned fellow A gentle word, A solemn vow, A kiss— And all is well, oh! Il Again the girl Another night, Same moon Thus far ‘tis well, oh! But if we took We'd see— Another fellow! F. G. Howard, 1889. No. 352.) Old Friends “CO)LD friends are best!" not too old! For one I do not seek hin my eager arms to fold A form long since antique. (September 26, Yet I want no painted Pompadour, Flirting at forty-three ; A friend of twenty-two or four Is old enough for me. Harry Romaine. 1891. No. 452.) (July 1, 1886. No. 183.) 1776 For caresses we win and smiles we gain Yield only a transient bliss, And we're all of us prone to sigh in vain For “the girl we couldn't kiss."” Harry Romaine. (March 26, 1891. No. 430.) Love’s Lesson . E evening as they sat beneath The moon's soft rays so pale, Moved by an impulse born of love. He kissed her through her veil (August Next evening, as before, they sat Beneath the star-flecked dome, Yet not exactly as before— She'd left her veil at home. Tom Masson. “GOING BACK ON A No. 443.) (December 26, 1889. FRirxp.”” (June 15, 1891. No. 365.) comicbooks.com