Summary
In the opulent shadow of pre-war decadence, Elizabeth Schuyler exists as a gilded bird within her father’s palatial cage, defined by capricious whims and inherited luxury. The global cataclysm of the Great War shatters this porcelain existence, thrusting her into the visceral carnage of the front lines as a volunteer nurse. This baptism by fire effects a profound psychological alchemy; the frivolous debutante perishes, and a socially conscious altruist is born from the embers. Returning to a civilian world that feels increasingly alien, Elizabeth finds her father’s wealth hollow compared to the plight of disenfranchised veterans struggling for vocational dignity. To bridge the chasm between her privilege and their poverty, she accepts a paternal wager: to match a $10,000 endowment through her own ingenuity. Shedding her silk for the threadbare garments of a 'slavey'—a common drudge—she infiltrates Mrs. Murphy’s boarding house to live among the very men she seeks to uplift. The narrative culminates in a spectacular display of equestrian prowess and carnivalesque showmanship, as Elizabeth orchestrates a charity circus to secure the funds necessary to transform her vision of a veteran employment bureau into a concrete reality.
Synopsis
Elizabeth Schuyler is the daughter of a wealthy man, and is spoiled by him. But then the war comes and she goes overseas as a nurse. She returns to her former life as a changed woman. She decides to help out returning soldiers who are looking for jobs. Her father promises to give her $10,000 if she can raise the same amount on her own. To win the help of the returning soldiers, she poses as a "slavey" at Mrs. Murphy's boarding house, where many of them are staying. She gains their trust, then puts on a circus, in which she rides a horse bareback and does stunts. The circus raises more than $10,000, so her father honors his part of the bargain. With the additional money, she sets up an office and devotes her energies to finding jobs for the servicemen.
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