Life, 1916-02-03 · page 7 of 48
Life — February 3, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a romantic satire titled "The Painted Garden," featuring poetry by Reginald Wright Kaufman. The verses use garden metaphors to explore love's beauty and transience—flowers that grow impossibly tall, bloom briefly, and fade. The illustration depicts an elegant social gathering, likely a party or reception. The caption quotes dialogue: "She could have married almost anybody." "Well, she did. Didn't she?" This joke satirizes marriage among the upper classes, suggesting that the woman's choice of husband was unremarkable or disappointing—implying she married "anybody" rather than someone truly exceptional. It's social commentary on romantic expectations versus the mundane reality of matrimonial outcomes in high society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Painted Garden “THE flowers in Love's Garden, t They grow so very tall; I cannot guess the reason, Or who can plant them all.”— They're planted by quick glances Of careless give-and-take ; They grow so tall because the soil Is made of hearts that break. . \* ur Mh 7 4 "nat y ae “The flowers in Love's Garden, They grow so wondrous bright. Each rose is red by ev'ning That bloomed at morning white: Tell me the pretty secret.”— Each gently perfumed bud Is pressed against our bosoms And painted with our blood. “The flowers in Love's Garden, They grow so thick and fast That Tuesday’s ten are blooming Ere Sunday's five have passed: Does this go on forever?” — Through all the million years: Love turns the loam with laughter, We water it with tears. Reginald Wright Kauffman. “SHE COULD HAVE MARRIED ALMOST ANYBODY.” “WELL, SHE DID. DIDN’T SHE?” comicbooks.com..