Life — January 18, 1917 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This illustration by Paul Starr depicts a young woman in an elegant white dress gazing longingly through a doorway, holding what appears to be a photograph or letter. The caption reads: "AND HE SAID I WAS THE ONLY GIRL HE EVER LOVED." The cartoon satirizes romantic deception—a common theme in early 20th-century humor. The woman's wistful expression and the sentimental caption suggest she's been told she's unique, yet the illustration implies this is a hollow romantic cliché that men use on multiple women. The artwork captures a moment of naive hope mixed with the suggestion of inevitable disappointment, mocking both male dishonesty and female gullibility in romantic matters. This reflects period attitudes about courtship and gender relations.