Life, 1920-05-13 · page 14 of 52
Life — May 13, 1920 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical sketch depicts a soldier reunited with civilian society at a social gathering. The cartoon mocks the awkwardness between the returning serviceman and upper-class women hosting an afternoon tea. The dialogue reveals the social disconnect: the women ask superficial questions about his wartime experiences while discussing trivial matters like lemon versus cream in tea. The soldier grows frustrated with their inability to grasp the gravity of combat, while they find his war stories disturbing and inappropriate for polite conversation. The satire critiques both the soldiers' difficulty reintegrating and the civilian upper class's shallow indifference to military sacrifice. It captures post-WWI tensions between those who experienced trench warfare and those insulated by domestic comfort.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Publics WOW WAPPY COULD 1 RE WITH RITHER WERE TOTHER DEAR CHARMER AWAY! The Returned Soldier at an Afternoon Tea Party H' IW wonderful it must scem to be back on this side again! time in the trenches. J don't wonder you look so sad when you Lemon or cream? How nasty of them to keep you over speak of it in Germany such a long time! 1 was dying to run over there “Did you stay in the food business, or have you gone myself; but they wouldn't give me a passport. 1 thought T something different now ? . Oh, T should think you wor might make griddle cakes on a little travelir 0 hate to go into any big concern like that unless you were tl in costume, but they couldn't seem to see it at a even president or the manager—it must be so hard to be a subor suggested going over asa singer. I've never done any singing dinate after being a second Heutenant. Have rer Iump of myself, but I've heard a great many other women, and I'm sure sugar—you don’t need to worry about your I could do as well as they do without any trouble “Did you meet Mary Crosby over there? She worked in onc “Have vou kept all your uniforms? Oh, you couldn't of the hospitals. 5 Oh, you were never wounded at all » that—what sacrilege! You must keep one to be buried in, How disappointing! 1 do so adore those stripes on the sleeves or married in, anyway—or to show to your grandchildren a “You must miss the army life dreadfully—just like goit entury or two from now—I mean a generation, don’t 1? The hack to colle in, wasn’t it? With your rank, though Jd gentleman next door to us is a Civil War veteran, and he suppose you felt more like a professor than a student. What has more fun fighting his battles over again, although my liheral education you must have had! grandfather says he never saw a bit of action, and they're all “IT just can’t tell you how inspired 1 feel since I've bad t! in his own imagination, little talk with you—I really wish you did not have to go “Deo tell me about some of your experiences, Mr. Foughtwell seon, You mustn't forget to see that new gun they have ju I do so love to hear of the wonderful things you brave men put up in the Park. It's a 72- or o6-horsepower, at least did—or saw someone else do. It's an inspiration to me. 5% can't look at it without tears in my eyes. I’m so sympathetic. You haven't any experiences! Didn't you go over the top a you know. 2... That's all right; leave the cup there on the all—not even once? 2... Oh, you were in the Quartermas- table. Sorry you have to hurry away. So glad to have hear! ter’s Corps! How horrid! I suppose you had to stay behind all about your experiences, even if you didn’t have very man and order the lunch while the other hoys were off having a good of them. Geod-hy.” comicbooks.com