Life, 1893-03-30 · page 3 of 28
Life — March 30, 1893 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Three Flowers" - Life Magazine Analysis This page features a satirical poem titled "Three Flowers" with three sections (Before Lent, Lent, and Easter), each describing a woman using flower metaphors. The central illustration shows a figure standing atop a globe, sword raised, surrounded by scattered flowers and text reading "THE WORLD." The satire appears to mock the superficiality of female vanity and appearance across different occasions—the showy "tropic rose" before Lent, the plain "violet" during the austere Lenten season, and the Easter display of white lilies and lace. The figure dominating the world suggests women's influence or ambition. The accompanying sketches below depict romantic or social scenes, reinforcing themes of courtship and feminine presentation. The poem's author is credited as "Sewell Roades."
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
VOLUME XXI. NUMBER 535. THREE FLOWERS. BEFORE LENT. Ta: brilliant, glowing, sheathed in evening gown— With jewels gleaming in her hair's gold brown, Stately and gracious in her queen-like pose, My love is like some tropic rose. LENT, Demure and saintly, soft and sweet, Gowned in plain garb from head to feet— Kneeling, her eyes with Lenten tears half wet, My maid is just a violet. Garbed in pure white, with lilies on her breast, And silvery laces like a wave's bright crest Upon the golden glory of her hair, My lady love's a lily fair. Sewall Ready comicbooks.com