Life, 1919-05-22 · page 18 of 42
Life — May 22, 1919 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains three satirical pieces: **"Orchids and Mignonette"**: A romantic poem about a woman who abandons her humble garden life to pursue exotic orchids in the jungle, only to miss home. The satire mocks women's supposedly irrational desires for adventure and exotic things over domestic contentment. **"Different"**: A brief joke about a young poet's spring poem being harmless until he starts reciting it publicly—satirizing self-important amateur poets who subject others to their work. **"An Opportunist"**: Satirizes competitive business tactics. When merchant Silverman advertises a stock clearance, rival Abrams counters with a sign reading "Main Entrance"—a clever, minimalist response suggesting Silverman's store isn't worth entering. This mocks commercial one-upmanship. The sketch at bottom appears to reference wartime insurance claims and German trenches, likely from WWI context, though the exact reference is unclear without additional dating.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
"LIFE * Orchids and Mignonette WOMAN lived in a garden once, On a quict village street: Where the grass was green with the tender rains And shaded by elms from the heat: Where primrose and daisy and mignonette Grew riotously at her feet. But the woman had heard of the jungle Where strange wild orchids grow. (Why women will do these foolish things, Only God in His wisdom can know.) Sut—she left her garden and took the trail That leads where the wise don't go. Oh, yes, she found the orchids, But women don't ever forget. And she dreams in the heat of the jungle Of a garden with clean rain wet, And over the scentless orchids Drifts the odor of mignonette! Joseph Andrew Galahad. Different RAWFORD: I always thought the young bard's spring poem was a harmless little thing. Cransuaw: So it is, until he begins to spring it Retired Barber (trimming his hedge): suAMpoo, sir? An Opportunist OMPETITION was keen hetween Abrams and Silver- man, who owned adjoining stores. There came an hour, however, when Abrams felt that his business pros- pects were ruined. It was when he found his neighbor's show-windows draped one morning with huge strips of can- yas upon which the public was informed, in capital letters, that Silverman's entire stock would be offered at one-third its marked price until closed out. After rallying from the first shock of this rming news, Abrams fled to the dim seclusion of his office and strained his brains wildly for inspiration. And not in vain, for before the bargain- hunters had even finished their morning coffee, Abrams was triumphantly nailing above his doorway an imposing banner, bearing simply the two words: “ Main Entrance.” . . “NO, I DON’T WANT ANY INSURANCE! DIDN’T YOU SE White House Society Note ADMITTANCE? ON THE pooR?” At HOME—July and November—Thursdays. igent: SURE 1 pip! THE: GERMANS HAD “ NO ADMITTANC writTt BARRED WIRE AND BULLETS OUTSIDE THEIR TRENCHES, BUT WE GOT IN, JUST THE SAME,