Judge, 1916-07-15 · page 16 of 28
Judge — July 15, 1916 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story follows Billy Armatage, a wealthy young man who fell into disgrace—apparently through dissipation and broken engagements—and disappeared. He resurfaces as a distinguished soldier in the Foreign Legion, earning the Cross of the Legion of Honor, then becomes a military aviator. After being wounded in combat, he's hospitalized with bandaged eyes. The narrative suggests redemption through military service: Billy has redeemed his tarnished reputation through courage and sacrifice. The illustration shows him being cared for by a nurse (likely his childhood friend, based on the story's romantic arc), implying further personal restoration awaits. This reflects early-20th-century American values: that military service could restore honor to a disgraced gentleman, and that war provided moral redemption. The story appeared in *Judge* during or shortly after America's involvement in WWI.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
REWINNING By J. REPUTATION WALDRON vie LLOm)e ao tion. A bandage was removed from his eyes, which riously affected. Then a shat- tered knee preliminarily treated came in for examination. “We shall have to amputate,” was the decision. Although arguments are not indulged in between surgeons and men on their backs, especially Somewhere in France, Billy’s dissenting language was so picturesque that it was decided to leave the matter to the chief surgeon, who happened along on his rounds at the moment. “Hello, Jack!” was Billy’s greeting to this master of the scalpel. “Hello, Billy Armatage!” was the surgeon’s response. They looked at each other wonderingly. They had been classmates at college, but had lost sight of each other; and neither had any idea that the other was at the front in a war in which their country was trying to be neutral. After the chief surgeon had examined Billy’s wounds, a short debate on amputation ensued, one side of it being purely scien- tific and the other merely—but graphically—human, Billy won out, though the surgcon disclaimed responsibility for consequences. But the surgeon was doing his share when he sent a special nurse to follow unusual instructions. were found not s ILLY ARMATAGE came out of stupor from the opiate just as two surgeons were giving him atten- S One es another and he had been placed in ill favor with most of his family and the exclusive set that once had been proud of him. Even the girl he had thought to marry had broken their engage- ment. He had disappeared after a period of dissipation follow- ing this humiliation. The first intelligence of him that drifted over the sca was that he had so distinguished himself in the Foreign Le; to win the Cross of the Legion of Honor. He had survived catastrophe of that cosmopolitan assembly of darede some way the military authorities had learned that he was an amateur aviator, and he was transferred to the air service. to his joy. After several achievements he had come to earth wounded, but he had saved his machine while an and its pilot had been scrapped. And here, lying had learned of a sequel to his disgrace at home. A favorite aunt who had always believed in him had died, leaving him a million or two. Billy’s eyes were still bandaged day after day, but he sensed the solicitous ministrations of the nurse his surgeon friend had provided. During his periods of lucidity he listened intently to her voice. His hearing after the pandemonium he had passed through was not acute, but he thought he had heard the voice