The Wasp, 1913 · page 125 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 125: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains narrative fiction rather than a political cartoon. It describes a seaside horseback riding excursion among Hawaii's colonial elite—high officials, military officers, and wealthy planters—a leisure activity that marked their social status. The passage focuses on a romantic subplot: Elizabeth Nash and James Burnham riding ahead together, exchanging meaningful glances. The narrator notes Nash had recently discovered "the art of the eye" (flirtation) and was becoming half in love with Burnham—remarkable because she'd previously loved no man except her father. The satirical target appears implicit: the idle pastimes and romantic intrigues of the governing classes, contrasted with Mr. Stanton sleeping heavily at home ("sunk seventy fathoms deep"). Without seeing illustrations or knowing the publication date, the broader satirical point remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
122 THE WASP A dozen men and women went for an early morn- ing canter along the firm sands beside the sea. These rides were a favorite form of amusement with the governing classes of the islands—with the high officials, the naval and military officers, and the wealthy planters. Major Black was there, accompanied by his wife and Miss Kitty Trimmer. Elizabeth Nash and James Burnham were also present. Mr. Stanton lay at home, sunk seventy fathoms deep in thick and heavy slumber. Miss Nash and Mr. Burnham led the way for the first half mile, exchanging few words, and those absolutely commonplace, and many glances. The lady—bless her pure and tender heart !—had been born a mistress of the art of the eye. She had never cultivated it, to her knowledge, until re- cently. No other man had ever interested her as James Burnham did. 1 think she was half in love with him by this time—she who had never before loved any man but her own father. Comichooks.com