The Wasp, 1913 · page 217 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 217: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is **not a cartoon** but rather prose fiction—likely from a serialized story in *The Wasp* magazine. The text describes a colonial scene on the island of Nevis, where a ship called the *Tartar* has arrived. The passage introduces **Mr. Willis**, a character who appears to be a doctor or medical professional. The final paragraph contains the thematic point: Willis has been treating **Percy Stanton**—a man he apparently dislikes—back to health, assisted by "the beautiful Miss Kitty." The satire is **ironic and psychological**: Willis must use his medical skills to save someone's life whom he would "gladly have dead," suggesting romantic rivalry (Kitty is likely the love interest both men want). The cruel humor lies in Willis's moral and emotional torture—forced to preserve his rival's life while witnessing their closeness during treatment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XIT HE governor of Nevis had given up hope of finding his friend James Burnham and had decided that he had left the island by the time the Tartar let go her anchors in the harbor. The battery on the hill and the little war-vessel in the basin exchanged salutes. Then the sloop’s commander, accompanied by the senior of his two lieutenants-and three very small midshipmen, came ashore to pay his respects to Captain Nash. The governor had a dozen of the officers of the garrison in attendance and young Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis looked paler, thinner, and brighter of eye than ever. He had been working hard over Percy Stanton—harder than there was need for, perhaps; and the beautiful Miss Kitty had been his faithful assistant on the case. To practice all one’s | skill to save a person from death whom one would gladly have dead is a cruel strain on one’s nervous 212 Comichooks.com