The Wasp, 1913 · page 284 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 284: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a dialogue between sailors debating superstition versus practical leadership. Bill Hook expresses fear about pursuing rival captain John Trimmer with thirteen men—invoking maritime superstitions (unlucky numbers, Fridays, black cats). James Burnham dismisses these "old wives' tales," arguing that Trimmer's superstitious nature—avoiding Fridays, checking the moon—hasn't actually protected him; rather, Burnham himself (a "better man") defeated him through competence, not luck. The satire targets folk superstition among working-class sailors, positioning rational leadership as superior. However, Tom Croft's final retort—that Trimmer still commands a full ship and crew while Burnham has neither—undercuts Burnham's bravado, suggesting his superiority is merely rhetorical posturing. The piece appears to be a fictional narrative excerpt rather than a political cartoon, likely satirizing class pretensions and the gap between boastful talk and actual power among maritime characters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 279 Bill Hook. “There bain’t no luck in thirteen save devilish bad luck. It be flyin’ into the face of things to go after Trimmer with a company o’ thirteen!” Bill Hook trembled and swore and plucked at his red beard with a clawlike hand. The others turned curious, leering faces toward him. “I don’t hold with these old wives’ tales,” said James Burnham. “I leave such for blundering swabs like John Trimmer. John was afraid of the number thirteen as he’s afraid of me. John would never get his anchor up on a Friday, nor have a black cat aboard, nor look at a new moon without turning his money over in his breeches-pocket. And _what has luck done for the dog? He enjoyed some - fool luck until a better man came along—and there it ended. Who is the captain you lads chose to fol- low, of your own free will—John Trimmer or Jim Burnham? Aye, Jim Burnham. You're ready to follow Trimmer now—to slit his dirty throat when you overhaul him. What’s all this infernal super- stition done for that white-livered hound ?”’ “He’s got his ship, cap’n, an’ he’s got his full crew; an’ ye ain’t got neither,” replied Tom Croft. Comichooks.com