Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-14
THE CHAFFING DISH
OIivia's Feast
A Roadhouse Rapture

Hoaohouse rapture
YOUR birthday . And the board was
l. fair
With bread and sweetness from the hive;
The steak and chilling clans were there,
Washed down with two point seventy five.
Crude feast, unspoiled by kiss or tear,
Honoring one so youngly sweet.
The fragrant four and twentieth year
Made bright her hair and swathed her feet.
Yet something failed? What was it. then?
Of honey and meat there was no lack.
One girl and half dozen men
To write the evenings almanac,
Might almost fill two rounded hours
With honest reverence, and serene,
Seeing in her the flower Of flowers,
And quaint, young peer of any queen.
Yet something failed. What was it. dear?
The drink too fat? The bread too sweet?
Although your four and twentieth year
Turned gay your hair and touched your
feet.
Inept and mute, bereft and cowed.
We thought our lack the spur of wine,
Till one leaped up and called aloud
For dish of olives, rich with brine.
And then, in his inspired demand,
We felt her spirit, every whit.
That sleek and spicy food was planned
To shadow forth her pungent wit,
Her piquant face, her eyes so clear,
Her agile satire's crisping brine -
So, Lord of Kitchens, grant next year
No meat be spread, no honey shine,
Save with that final grace Of green
Her henchmen never shall forget,
And we shall eat your health, young queen,
In olives. sprightly Olivette!
RICHARD DESMOND.
About a week ago we remarked that an
editor had asked us to write him a Christ
mas poem at once, and we added that it is
hard to twirl off the snow -spanged Yuletide
stuff at this time of year. But genial Sub
Rosa comes TO our rescue. She sends in the
following just to show us how easy it is:
Brumous Verses
Oh the long and dreary winter!
Oh, the cold and cruel winter!
Eirst Fbsa II It rs,s slams yo you T'h h.ra snNwstorm
MSiis ETSffHf ns Wind S'T1Ssf 5SS. tff
Blows great guns and little pistols.
SGG aaa S IRs Gses:r ssa
Horses gaiy dance the can-csn.
Trains get stuck in mighty snowdriftA--
Sure is handing out some weather.
Cheer up, folks, the spring is coming!
What though snow be wildly falling?
What though gales rip off the housetopst
What though poets t?) write blank versesf
Each days passing brings nearer,
Nearer to the gladstone springtime,
Nearer to the beauteous summer,
Nearer to the dear mosquitoes.
SwattinE flies and perspiration!
| Though there's ice upon the furnace.
| Ice 10 cover roofs and windows,
Lots of ice in kitchen boilers.
Though the coal bin yawneth empty
| Winter will not last all summer!
| All these grave dscomforts suffered
| Leaving nothing but memory.
| Nothing but the chilis and fever.
| rheumatism, influenza,
| ChiIbiains. frostbte and neuralsia-
| SO be brave and cheerful-hearted
Lift your voice in songs OF Sladnsss,
| Ut will keep you that much warmer).
| \ And when IL Is all completed,
| \ Nothing more to be accomplished
| Naught tc do until the morrow.
| spread out in your comfy arm chair.
| Read the Dish for relaxation!
| We are heartily grieved to see that Ser
| geant Alvin York, though still on his honey
moon, has been doing some more publ
speaking. If Mrs. York doesn't vake hin
/ in hand right speedily he'll get INTO tn,
| Chautauque circuit. SOCRATES.