Life, 1912-08-15 · page 25 of 40
Life — August 15, 1912 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1605 *Life* magazine page contains satirical commentary on romance and marriage. **Top Cartoon:** The illustration of three grotesque figures labeled "Harvard," "Yale," and "Princeton" mocking the caption "Three Little Maids from School Are We" (from *The Mikado*) satirizes elite university men as foolish and unattractive despite their prestigious educations. **"Thanks Be!" poem:** A cynical piece questioning why people fall in love—noting that the beloved often appears "stupid and ugly and old" to outsiders, yet lovers are mysteriously drawn to them anyway. It argues that attraction is inexplicable and varies person to person. **"When the Heart is Young" dialogue:** A romantic exchange where a man promises eternal love through all hardships (aging, poverty, infidelity temptations, children), and the woman, knowing such promises are impossible, chooses to believe him anyway—capturing the willful self-deception required for romantic commitment. Together, these pieces present love as simultaneously absurd (the cartoons) and beautiful (the dialogue)—a contradiction the magazine explores with gentle mockery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
— “THREE LITTLE MAIDS FROM SCHOOL ARE WE” Thanks Be! E’en he cannot tell, HE reason he loves her? But with her is Heaven, without her is Hell. To us she looks stupid and ugly and old, While beauty’s about him in numbers untold! Then why did he choose her? The mystery’s great, But lovers are lovers by curious Fate! And why does she take him? Sure, nobody knows! Her path has been crowded by lovers and beaux. And here—she’s adoring the worst of the lot! He's minus a fortune—his talk’s “ tommy-rot,” His figure's atrocious—and yet, she is his! This loving of lovers is sure a “queer biz"! But that is the way it always will be— Why lovers are lovers—we others can’t see. But you know and I know it’s only too true That the one who thrills me doesn’t often thrill you. One gives me heart transports, while you she gives chill "it will! It always has been so—and “thanks be ec. Ss. When the Heart is Young—and in Love HE WOMAN: And you ‘will always love me as now? Tue Man: I will always love you as now. Tue Woman: But I will be ill and weak. Tue Man: No matter; I will love you Tue Wo: I will grow old Tue Man: I will still love you. Tue Woman: I may be fretful and cross. Not always smiling sweet as now. Tue Man: No matter. I will love you. Tue Woman: We may be pressed by poverty. My gowns may be cheap and unbecoming Tue Man: I will love you even so. Tue Wom Other women, younger, more beautiful, will cross your path. Tue Man: I will see only you. Tue Woman: Children may absorb my attention. Tue Man: I will be patient. Tue Woman: You will always love me—as now? Tue Man: I will always love you—as now Tue Wom. It is not true. But you have said it— and I believe you! Josephine Conger-Kancko. comicbooks.com