Life — February 11, 1915 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page combines a romantic poem ("A Dream Valentine" by Clinton Scollard) with a satirical cartoon titled "A Lesson in Ancient History." The cartoon depicts two figures at a desk surrounded by books labeled with classical and literary titles (including "Romeo," "Juliet," and other classics). The angel-winged cherub on the left appears to be instructing or advising an adult woman on the right about romantic literature. **The satire**: The joke likely mocks how people—particularly women of the era—learned about romance primarily through literature and classical texts rather than lived experience. "Ancient history" suggests these literary romantic ideals are outdated. The contrast between the poem's flowery sentimentality and the cartoon's ironic treatment of romance-through-books creates the satirical point: real romance differs from literary fantasy.