The Wasp, 1913 · page 163 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 163: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reproduces dialogue from a narrative, likely a serialized story rather than a standalone cartoon. The text describes the aftermath of a duel between two men: Stanton (apparently killed or seriously wounded) and Burnham (the shooter). Dr. Hamm boasts about his own dueling prowess while confidently predicting Burnham's victory based on the Burnham family's reputation for fighting. He then cynically advises Willis that authorities need only hear Stanton "fell from his horse"—suggesting a cover-up. Willis responds that Burnham merely intended to wound ("wing") Stanton, implying the death was unintended. The satire appears to mock the code of honor surrounding dueling and the casual corruption of authority figures (Dr. Hamm) who help conceal such deaths. Without seeing the full publication date or broader context, the specific historical figures remain unclear, but the critique of dueling culture and official complicity is evident.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
158 THE WASP wing him as neat as you please at twenty paces. I have a hole in my own chest here that would aston- ish you could you see it. So it was a good fight, was it? Wish I had been there, stap me if I don’t!” “Tt was a close fight, sir,” replied Willis. ‘“Stan- ton seemed to have the advantage up to the very moment of falling. The sun shone full into Burn- ham’s eyes.” “T could have told you how it would end,” said Dr. Hamm. ‘Did you think for a moment that this hulk had any chance against a son of old Walter Burnham, of Burnham? They are of a fighting strain, the Burnhams, with a dash of the fiend in it. And where is Burnham now? I trust that he’ll not be fool enough to run away. No need of it, even if Percy goes out. All that the authorities need ever hear of it is that the young sot fell from his horse.” “T don’t know what Burnham intends to do,” re- plied Willis. “We left him on the beach, poor fel- low.- He meant only to wing Stanton.” Commichooks.com