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Life, 1917-10-18 · page 37 of 40

Life — October 18, 1917 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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Life — October 18, 1917 — page 37: Life, 1917-10-18

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct pieces: a short story and a WWI-era advertisement. **The Story**: "The Usual Thing" by Clare D. Robeson is a comic narrative about Miss Minerva, an unlucky woman who finally gets her wish—someone does something *for* her. On a Hudson River steamboat, a wealthy bachelor named Simpson proposes marriage and offers to settle a million dollars on her. However, just as she's about to respond, a uniformed official interrupts, ordering "Come on, Colonel," and both vanish. Miss Minerva realizes she's been summoned as a military keeper—her bad luck continues. **The Advertisement** uses a patriotic analogy: just as Scottish warriors in Sir Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake" sprang instantly to their chieftain's call, American citizens must stand ready to serve their nation during WWI. The telephone company positions itself as enabling this instant national mobilization for "warfare, munitions, transportation and food conservation." The juxtaposition is ironic—a light domestic comedy followed by serious wartime propaganda about duty and sacrifice.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Officers of the British, French and Allied Armies and Navies were well acquainted with the superior durability of Fownes Cape gloves, before the War. Since then they have used “Capes” in even larger quantities. InAmerica FownesCapes areof the same high Service standard —and are washable. Civilians, Army and Navy Officers, if its a TOWNES that’s all you need to know about a GLOVE. “The Usual Thing” ISS MINERVA was always un- lucky had used her for a Her, relations and friends good thing” for At first now she was tired years and years and years she had “bitten,” and sick of it She was determined to take a vacation, to go off on a trip, all by herself, and do no more for anyone So she packed up her things and set off on a journey up the Hudson by steam- hoat. Oh, yes, I think that would only be just. cuse my being so precipitate— will you marry me?” “But, sir, 1—" “Yes or no, madam, I am a business man; I must have Am I so hateful to you “Oh, no, sir, I—" » dallying They were interrupted by a curt offi- cial in a blue uniform | hat He raised his “Excuse me, madam. Come on, Colonel.” A shaft of light from a neighboring headland struck across their faces. By its light, on the cap of the blue-coated official, Miss Minerva read the signifi- cant word: “Keeper.” They vanished. She sank down in her steamer chair. “Just my luck,” said Miss Minerva. Clare D. Robeson. It was a rarely beautiful, moonlight night, but Miss Minerva was not in a ood humor. ‘That very morning, as she left home, the postman had handed her four begging letters As she sat in her deck chair, looking over the silvered water, Miss Minerva The Instant Summons “Instant, through copse and heath, arose Bonnets and spears and bended bows; As if the yawning hill to heaven A subterranean host had given.” thought of those four letters “LT wish somebody would do some- thing for me once, just once!” thought Miss Minerva At this moment her view of the Palisades was cut off by the portly figure of a tall, grey-haired man.’ He was bowing to her—to her! “The privi of shipboard,” he explained.“ we take little stroll? It is such a beautiful evening.” strolled and he talked. He in- formed her that his name was Simp- son, that he was a bachelor, and— lonely, madam, lonely.” strolled on. “Of course, | hardly know you, madam, but opportunity, you know, knocks but once, and you are exactly the type of woman I have been look- ing for—exactly the type. I should settle a million dollars on my wife. wealthy, They The whistled summons of Roderick Dhu, the hero of Scott's “Lady of the Lake,” caused his Highland warriors literally to spring from the earth. Ere the echo died away, from behind bush and rock emerged the loyal and ready clansmen. In armed silence they | awaited their chieftain’s bidding and typified his might. Today the Commander-in-Chief of our nation’s armed forces and the re- sources behind them, can, by lifting the telephone receiver, instantane- One Policy AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES One System ously set in motion all the vast ma- chinery of warfare, munitions, trans- portation and food conservation. Like the Scottish mountaineers, the American people must stand in loyal readiness to perform any service in furtherance of the nation’s high aim. Such a spirit of co-operation and sacrificing of individual interests can alone make certain the accom- plishment of the great task to which our country is committed. Universal Service comicbooks.com