The Wasp, 1913 · page 272 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 272: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be prose fiction rather than a political cartoon. It's a narrative excerpt from *The Wasp* magazine depicting a dramatic scene involving characters named Sir Walter, James Burnham, Alexander Burnham, and Elizabeth. The text describes anxieties about an impending trial and public execution by hanging in Boston, apparently related to piracy ("notorious pirate"). A character anticipates the shame of the courtroom proceedings and fears being forced to testify against James Burnham, who is apparently revealed to be a criminal. The passage ends with Alexander Burnham departing by cutter from a ship called the *Thunderous*. Without additional context about the specific narrative this excerpts, publication date, or the magazine's satirical targets, the precise historical or political references remain unclear. The text suggests melodramatic fiction rather than direct social satire or political commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
should Sir Walter ever again hold up his head in distant Berkshire? Then, after black and weary weeks, would follow the public hanging in Boston; but before the hang- ing would come the trial. Ah, the trial! That would be the hardest and most shameful stage of the terrible proceedings. Already in his mind’s eye he saw the gloating populace and the incredulous and austere judge, the curiosity of every one to ob- tain a closer view of the device on the back of the notorious pirate, the horror and rage on thousands of faces when the story of the prisoner’s crimes was told. And he—perhaps even Elizabeth—would be forced to bear witness that this monster was none other than James Burnham. Perhaps he would be called upon to disclose the device upon his own shoulder. The Thunderous lay to off the black coast, and three cutters, full of armed men, pulled away from her with muffled oars. Alexander Burnham crouched in the bow of one of the cutters. He had left Elizabeth sleeping soundly in their comfortable THE WASP 267 Comicnooks.com