Mirror-Wise: A Precarious Story, 1944

On: By: Romeyn

(On back of leaflet)
Mirror-wise: A Precarious Story

Joan was in her room and just about to change because she intended to go to the Cinema with Bob. She had done that quite often since John, her husband had left for the front. Why should she? Bob is a good friend of John’s and he certainly wouldn’t object. Everybody understands that Joan cannot always sit at home alone for years without any companionship.

Yesterday, Bob came a little earlier than usual and entered Joan’s room just as she was adding the last touch of rouge. She didn’t mind his staying for they were really good friends – and so accustomed to each other.

As she rolled on her stockings, Bob told her all that he had done during business hours that day and then she noticed that the elbow of his jacket had a little grease spot; so she took it and cleaned it. What could anybody think wrong about that – among friends.

And then……. Neither knew how it happened, she felt his strong body leaning gently against her, and then, they kissed, for a long, long while.

Joan was in a dream, she was feeling that marvellous something that she had missed for so long, it was so wonderful.

Then she opened her eyes, and there was that horror before her. Was it a dream, or was it reality?

She looked in the mirror and saw…. John! John in the arms of another! In the arms of Death!

But no, it was not John embraced by Death, it was YOU, and it was not Joan looking in the mirror but YOUR wife.

Joan is still alone.

And so are all the millions of other wives and girls.

But war goes on.

(Nazi propaganda piece from 1944)