Life, 1919-06-12 · page 11 of 46
Life — June 12, 1919 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a whimsical illustrated poem by Tudor Jenks satirizing romantic French pastoral conventions. The narrative follows Pierrot (a stock character from French comedy—the lovesick clown) and Pierrette (a coquettish maiden) on a romantic boating excursion. The satire mocks the artificiality of idealized romance: despite Pierrot's earnest declarations and betting he'll catch fish to impress her, Pierrette remains indifferent. She ultimately "wins" the wager—catching Pierrot himself instead of fish—suggesting that calculated feminine charm defeats sincere male devotion. The ornate Watteau-inspired illustrations frame this gently cynical commentary on courtship rituals, dressed in the veneer of elegant 18th-century French aesthetics that Life's educated readers would recognize as deliberately overwrought.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
EHOLD in spotless white a beau—the dainty dandy Pierrot, Who meets anon a gay coquette, the pretty maiden Pierrette. He bows. As in a minuet, she sinks into a curtsey low. “What jo! he cries, “ We are well met. Come, let us now a-fishing go— * I'll cast a fly; you'll ply the net!” “With all my heart,” quoth Pierrette. They enter now a gay batean, poled by the doughty Pierrot, Who vows that, should the craft upset, he'll surely rescue Pierrette; And she, her sportiveness to show, must challenge him to lay a bet That ere they sce the sunset glow the biggest catch she'll truly get. “If you shall fail, a kiss you'll owe— A good-night kiss!" said Pierrot With lovers hours seem never slow: these galloped for poor Pierrot. Nor did the moments seem to fret the pretty, lounging Pierrette. Too soon the sun begins to set, and all the west to crimson glow; The angler had caught nothing yet; the maiden still could nothing show. But still she won—and paid the debt, For she caught him, did Pierrette! Tudor Jenks. mn vi IN HAI i ! mT ( i il i} Wy Préeey Xemrore LEAT OLN comicbooks.com