The Wasp, 1913 · page 173 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 173: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized narrative rather than a political cartoon. It depicts a dialogue between characters named Trimmer, Burnham (Jim), and Henry Todd. The scene involves a recruitment conversation: Burnham, claiming to have seventy guineas and unable to return to England (where his father would prosecute him as a highwayman), is being recruited by Trimmer into some kind of organization or gang. Trimmer offers to accept the younger Todd as well "for your sake." The passage suggests criminal activity—references to a problematic ring, legal consequences, and highwaymanry. Without additional context about *The Wasp* magazine's specific satirical targets or the larger narrative, the precise political or social commentary remains unclear. This could be satirizing criminal underworld culture, legal corruption, or class dynamics of the period, but the text alone doesn't definitively establish which.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
168 THE WASP much nodding of heads and squirting of tobacco juice. Then Trimmer turned and beckoned to Henry Todd to approach. Henry obeyed, but with quak- . ing knees. Burnham could see that they were questioning Todd; and he smiled, produced his pipe, filled it, and lit it. His hands did not tremble in the somewhat trying task of striking a light with his flint. Trimmer came over to Burnham’s side and stood silent for a moment, gazing down at him. “What are your prospects, Jim?” he asked. Burnham laughed. “T have seventy guineas in the little box there,” he said. “I cannot go back to Nevis; and if I ever return to England my own father will hand me over to the law for a highwayman. Something went wrong with a certain ring which you gave me, Jack.” : | “Would you care to join my company?” asked Trimmer. “We need men of your kidney; and for your sake we are willing to take this lad Todd, Comichooks.com