Life — July 22, 1920 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Roses" — A Social Satire on Class and Wealth This poem by Edward W. Barnard, illustrated by Rollin Kirnan, satirizes the wealthy through their roses. The speaker—apparently a rose gardener of modest means—is pestered by "radish-raising neighbors" who resent his fine roses and spread gossip that he needs money because "my coat is seedy." The satire hinges on class resentment: wealthy or status-conscious neighbors assume poverty because appearance doesn't match their expectations. The poem mocks both their petty judgment and their own pretensions (references to "Malmaisous for Millie" and "Cabbages for Bet" suggest their limited sophistication). The illustration shows a domestic interior scene, likely depicting the contrast between the speaker's refined roses and his modest circumstances—the central joke being that good taste and beauty transcend social class.