Life, 1918-11-21 · page 28 of 34
Life — November 21, 1918 — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a romantic wartime narrative, not political satire. The story follows Polly, a Red Cross motor corps driver during World War I, who is called to pick up an officer. She discovers it's Jim, a former boyfriend who broke her heart a year earlier. The satire is *romantic* rather than political: Polly takes petty revenge by driving recklessly fast, clutching at the car's sides—a humorous payback for his past treatment. The accompanying cartoon "Nobody Loves a Fat Man" appears unrelated, showing civilians discussing food rationing during wartime, a common domestic humor topic. The story plays on 1910s-era themes: women's new wartime roles (motor service, military duty), class dynamics (officer and driver), and personal honor ("act like a real soldier"). The joke is that even in uniform, old romantic tensions resurface—Polly uses her official duties as cover for personal satisfaction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
756 In the Line of Duty OLLY gprps servite that morning in the motor Mrs Peters, in charge at Red Cross head- was on duty quarte! and sai¢ “ My dear, there has been some com- plaint from the military authoritie about our local service. Nothing seri- ous, but some of the girls haven't re- So if you should called her up at seven o'clock, sponded promptly all, please do yc drill happen to get a best. Remember your and act like a real soldier, Later on in the day Polly had settled nished housework practice, down to a lot of unfi » call came. headquarters, - when sudde th “Go to offic Bainbridge Aven waitin nd pick up the officer in take him the round! of the leaving him at the homes for convalescents an! carest railway sta report here.” Polly <t into She made the address on recar and was Bain bridge Avenue in cighteen minutes. A man in ut who had been wait- ing. ran down the steps. She saluted mechanically, Then suddenly their eyes met. Could it he possible? It was really Jim—Jim, the boy she had She had Since then And now he wasacaptain! Jim! How straight and tall he looked! But her cheek still flushed with anger to think how wrong he had been. She put her shoulders back more resolutely than ever. This was war, and she, too, was a soldier. The captain evidently felt the same way about it. But he betrayed no sign jump orm parted with over a year ago. flung his.ring back at him there had been an absolute silence of recognition, Stepping into the car, he said shortly : “Drive to —— Halsey Street.” Polly took a fiendish pleasure in driving fast. She plunged him around corners, and on the straightaways speeded her trusty car up to fifty-five. Never a word from behind, although once she fancied him clutching the sides of the car. The last call was made. It nearly seven o'clock. “Now drive me back to my quar- ters.” Polly saluted. She wasn’t sure it was right to salute or not, but she did it on general principles. “My orders were, sir, to finish your was calls, drive you to THEY'RE COINS e nearest station ay is the nearest railway: sta and report back to headquarters. “And my ice we are getting. orders woman, are to drive me back to my “About a mile and a the next turn.” “ Drive me there.” They turned the next corner at thirty miles, Suddenly she heard him call. There was a houseless stretch of road ahead of them. (Continued on page 762) to you, young Very well. How NOBODY LOVES A FAT MAN comicbooks.com