Judge, 1919-05-31 · page 13 of 36
Judge — May 31, 1919 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "A Regular Lark" by J.A. Waldron This is a short story illustration, not a political cartoon. It depicts an unhappy marriage between the Nuttings during World War I. The husband, a soldier in khaki who's been away in training camp, announces he's sailing to France. Rather than expressing concern, his wife Beatrice remains emotionally detached. The satire targets the deteriorating marriage through their cold conversation: he offers her a wager ("ten to one") that he won't return, and she responds with indifference rather than affection. The title "A Regular Lark" suggests their separation is treated as a casual joke rather than a serious wartime goodbye. The illustration shows them at what appears to be a formal dinner party, emphasizing the social facade masking their emotional distance. The story critiques how some marriages of the era had become purely transactional arrangements, devoid of genuine feeling.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
i | een Ov THE “Hore “AME IN ro Say ‘THert Micur se Some A Regular Lark By A. WaLprox Illustration i Lawrence HE Nuttings had been married long cnough to discover that they were hopelessly at odds For some time they had pursued contrasting impulses. If there had been any hope of agreement and a happy domesticity it should have been strength- ened by the fact that Nutting—who was interested as an heir in mines in various remote localities—was away from home most of the time. Surely a couple in most circumstances thus brought together only at rare in- tervals might have retained respect if they did not de- velop affection for each other. But the Nuttings seemed farther apart upon each occasion of reunion. Nutting appeared one morning in a doughboy’s khaki after a longer absence than usual. He had been in a training camp. “T thought I might as well tell you, Beatrice, that I sail for France to-morrow,” he said. ‘‘A simple dis- appearance would hardly be in good taste, though you probably wouldn't worry about it.” “Indeed!” “And it is back.” asked FeLtows she replie abc put Are you offering me a wager at those odd. ten to one that 1 never come she “Yes, if you are nervy enough to take it. And I'll leave any amount my attorney. “Indifferent M you we ence is the word to use not coming back, Harry. I’m not cold-blooded enough for that! “You're no am concerned.” care to cover in the hands of ke your game!” are to each other—if indiffer- I don’t care to gamble on your t cold-blooded at all—except where I “Tf that is meant as a compliment, I can honestly return it.” “T thought we might as well say ‘Good-by’ at least in a conventic even if I never returr will. for you in my onal wa You have money enough, yet I've made extra provision comicbooks.com