Life, 1923-02-15 · page 5 of 36
Life — February 15, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a romantic poem by C.S. (likely Charles S. Sanford or similar contributor) celebrating early New York City. The piece is nostalgic rather than satirical—it romanticizes a "long ago" encounter between a maiden with "brown as a berry" eyes and a debonair young man on a morning ferry crossing in Manhattan. The accompanying illustrations depict period-appropriate scenes: couples in Victorian dress, riverside landscapes, and ferry boats. The poem emphasizes idealized lost love and the beauty of old New York, with references to Saint Valentine's Day as the thematic frame. This appears to be sentimental editorial content rather than political satire—typical of *Life* magazine's mixed approach to humor and sentiment in the early 20th century.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“VALENTINE OLD MANHATT™ [oxS ago, long ago, on a morning-tide merry, Along Canal Street when it had a canal, There tripped a fair maiden adown to the ferry; And oh, but her lips had the hue of the cherry! And ah, but her eyes were as brown as a berry! And dainty her gown was with frill and fal-lal! Long ago, long ago, on this morning-tide merry, The air was like wine and the stin was ashine, There was a gay gallant strode up from the ferry; And oh, but his mien, it was debonair, very; And the tune on his lips it was derry, down derry! A ditty to Cupid and Saint Valentine. Enamored were they on that morning-tide merry Of life and of love, both the man and the maid; Said she:—“Prithee tell me the way to the ferry!” Said he:—“I will show thee; be happy to, very!” And ah, how her eyes that were brown asa berry Made his heart beat as fast as a drum at parade! And Cupid walked with them that morning-tide merry,— The air was like wine and the sun was ashine,— The maiden whose lips had the hue of the cherry, And the gallant whose bearing was debonair, very, Till both had let slip every thought of the ferry; Sing “hey” and ial = pin for Saint Valentine! And so we will leave them, this morning-tide merry (Ah, bright as a rainbow the path that they trod!), In their dream-happy search for Love's fortunate ferry, The maiden whose eyes were as brown as a berry, And the youth whose demeanor was debonair, very, Enmeshed in the toils of the saint and the ae comicbooks.com