“Why the change?” I asked.
She said, “It was before my time.”
I sat down and started poring through the papers. War news filled the front page, reports on the German drives, the submarine activities. Liberty Loan committees were making drives to reach their quotas. Oakview had gone “over the top”. There were mass meetings, patriots making speeches. A returned Canadian veteran, disabled, was making a lecture tour telling the story of the war. Money was being poured into Europe through a one-way funnel.
I hoped what I was looking for would make a big enough splash to hit the front page. I went through 1918 and found nothing.
“Could I,” I asked, “keep this temporarily, and see 1919?”
The girl brought me the file without a word. I kept on going through the front pages. The Armistice had been signed. The United States was the saviour of the world. American money, American youth, and American ideals had lifted Europe out of the selfishness of petty jealousies. There was to be a great League of Nations which would police the world and safeguard the weak against the strong. The war to end war had been won. The world was safe for Democracy. Other news began to filter into the front pages.
I found what I wanted in a July issue, under the headline: Oakview Specialist Sues for Divorce — Dr. Lintig Alleges Mental Cruelty.
The newspaper handled the affair with gloves, mostly confining itself to the allegations of the complaint. Poste & Warfield were attorneys for the plaintiff. I read that Dr. Lintig had an extensive practice in eye, ear, nose, and throat, and that Mrs. Lintig was a leader of the younger social set. Both were exceedingly popular. Neither had any comment to make to a representative of the Blade. Dr. Lintig had referred the reporter to his attorneys, and Mrs. Lintig had stated she would present her side of the case in court.
Ten days later, the Lintig case splashed headlines all over the front page: Mrs. Lintig Names Co-respondent — Society Leader Accuses Husband’s Nurse.
I learned from the article that Mrs. Lintig, appearing through Judge J. E. Gillfoil, had filed an answer and cross-complaint. The cross-complaint named Vivian Carter, Dr. Lintig s office nurse, as co-respondent.