The Wasp, 1913 · page 25 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a literary text page (labeled "II"), not a political cartoon. It appears to be from a serialized story in *The Wasp* magazine featuring characters named Burnham and Hobkirk debating naval combat strategy. The dialogue depicts two men disagreeing about engaging an enemy schooner. Burnham, appearing confident but naive, argues their "taller ship" and firearms give them advantage. Hobkirk, the experienced shipmaster, dismissively counters that the opposing vessel carries "one hundred and fifty devils"—implying ruthless, formidable fighters—and warns that Burnham will "whistle through a slit gizzard" (have his throat cut) for his five hundred guineas if he pursues this reckless plan. The passage's satirical edge lies in contrasting Burnham's theoretical optimism against Hobkirk's weathered, cynical realism about actual combat danger. Without additional context about who Burnham represents historically or politically, the specific satirical target remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
II URNHAM’S pale eyes shone and glinted. B His hands trembled on the taffrail and an artery pulsed visibly in his neck. “You have a strong crew and a stout ship,” he said. “Why not wait for them and give them a drubbing?” “Wait for them?” repeated the shipmaster in a horrified voice. “Heaven help you, sir, but you don’t know their kidney! A strong crew, say you? If we have forty seamen and the after-guard, that schooner carries one hundred and fifty devils— devils, sir!’ “But we have the taller ship,” persisted Burn- ham, “and pistols in plenty. We could shoot down upon her decks; we could cut them down as they came over the side, one by one.” “Aye; and ye’d soon be whistling through a slit gizzard for your five hundred guineas!” retorted ,Hobkirk dryly. 2 Comichooks.com