Life — February 15, 1929 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Let Me Be Your Valentine" by Stanley Raub This short story satirizes romantic conventions of the 1930s. The plot follows Norton Demorest, who receives business mail and discovers a Valentine's Day heart from an admirer—but cannot determine whether it's from Natalie or Muriel, two women vying for his attention. The cartoon at bottom, captioned "Who could it be, Muriel or Natalie?", shows two identical mermaid-like figures approaching Norton at his desk, making the ambiguity visual. The satire mocks male indecision in romance and the similar, interchangeable nature of his suitors—both women present themselves identically, suggesting Norton views them as essentially the same despite their competitive efforts for his affection.