The Wasp, 1913 · page 238 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 238: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents dramatic dialogue from what appears to be a serialized story rather than a political cartoon. The scene depicts a military confrontation: a drunk officer named Stanton publicly insults Alexander Burnham (an "Admiral") by mocking his brother's expulsion from London. Captain Cross intervenes furiously, ordering Stanton arrested and removed to barracks for disgracing "the regiment and the service." The satire targets military discipline and social shame. Stanton's drunken insolence—questioning why Burnham's brother was "chased out of London"—suggests scandal involving the upper classes, yet the military hierarchy brutally suppresses this critique. Cross's apology to Burnham emphasizes the regiment protects its own despite apparent misconduct. The vivid detail of soldiers restraining themselves from kicking the ill officer reveals the casual violence underlying military order. Without knowing the specific historical context or Burnham's brother's actual scandal, the excerpt satirizes how institutions prioritize reputation over justice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 233 “‘Where’s your precious brother, my fine Sir Suck- ing Admiral?” he bellowed. ‘Gone away—what? Gone to earth, hey? Why was he chased out of London; can you tell me that?” Alexander Burnham did not move leg or arm, but a tremor passed over his face and the muscles at the back of his neck twitched. Captain Cross jumped to his feet in anger. “Back to your quarters, sir!” he roared. “Away with you, you sot—you fool! D’ye hear me? Obey instantly, or I’ll have you broken! Wilson, Bridge, take him back to barracks. He has disgraced the regiment and the service. March!” Stanton went, muttering and staggering, but cowed to the bottom of his flabby heart by the cap- tain’s threat. A shamefaced subaltern went on either side of him, supporting him and propelling him with a violence that threatened to pull his arms out of joint in several places.- But for his recent illness they would have kicked him. “The whole regiment will apologize to you for ' this,” exclaimed Cross, turning to Burnham. “A Comichooks.com