Life — May 15, 1919 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This single-panel cartoon depicts a working-class man (indicated by his worn clothing and hat) sitting beneath a tree, plucking petals in the classic fortune-telling game of "loves me, loves me not." A well-dressed woman stands nearby, observing him. The satire appears to contrast social classes: the anxious laborer seeking reassurance about a woman's affections through superstition, while the elegantly-dressed woman (likely of higher social standing) remains emotionally distant or indifferent. The cartoon mocks either romantic uncertainty or the futility of working-class men hoping to win women above their station. The childish game emphasizes the man's helplessness and desperation in matters of the heart.