The Wasp, 1913 · page 115 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 115: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a literary excerpt rather than a cartoon page. The text depicts a dialogue among young British military officers discussing a woman named Kitty Trimmer, described as beautiful but penniless, who is a lady's companion to a senior major's wife. One officer (Stanton) is romantically interested in her. The satirical target seems to be the British colonial officer class—their casual gossip about women's marriageability, their betting on romantic outcomes, and their easy assumption of servant availability ("servants of all colors and shades"). Burnham's exit with an "exultant smile" suggests ironic amusement at their foolish romantic entanglements. The comedy centers on class pretension and the officers' obliviousness to how their gossip and assumptions might appear to an observer. *The Wasp* was known for mocking San Francisco's social hierarchies and pretension.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
112 THE WASP fasts frequently prove too much for new arrivals. But—ah, you mentioned a fair Kitty. Mr. Stan- ton’s wife, I suppose?” “Not yet, though I am willing to bet two to one, in guineas, that she will be Mrs. Percy Stanton be- fore we ever get back to England,” replied the youth who had spoken before. “In the mean time she is Mistress Kitty Trimmer, lady-companion to the wife of our-senior major. She is a beauty, sir, a beauty—and not worth a penny, I hear.” “Very romantic, I’m sure,” said Burnham pleas- antly. “I am glad to hear that Mr. Stanton can afford to be romantic. And now, gentlemen, if you will be so-kind as to excuse me, I’ll go and look after the disabled lover. If you want anything, shout for it. Some one will be sure to hear you, » for the place is overrun with servants of all colors and shades.” Burnham hurried toward the house with an ex- ultant smile upon his face. “Very civil fellow,” said one of the young bloods to the other. comichooks.com