The Wasp, 1913 · page 296 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 296: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a narrative fiction excerpt rather than a political cartoon. The passage depicts a dialogue between two ship officers (Smith and Mr. Winch) aboard a vessel called the *Virtue*, anticipating an encounter with another small ship. The humor derives from their reminiscence about a previous transaction with a French trader, where they obtained valuable goods (brandy, fowl, pig, cigars). When Smith asks what those provisions cost, Winch's witty reply—"a polite good-day-to-ye"—suggests they obtained the goods through deception or theft rather than honest trade, with both men laughing at the memory. The passage then shifts to the anticipated meeting as another vessel approaches at noon. Without seeing accompanying illustrations, the satirical intent remains unclear, though the piece appears to humorously portray maritime trading practices, possibly critiquing dishonest commerce or nautical opportunism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 291 ful, wind-snatched wisp of smoke trailing away from the pipe of her little galley. “There comes what we be a lookin’ for,” he said to Mr. Winch. “Rum an’ fowls at a bargain, an’ maybe some tobacco. She'll be up with us afore noon.” ““An’ maybe a keg of French brandy,” said Winch, chuckling. “D’ye call to mind the brandy we got from the little French trader last v’yage, not fifty miles from this same spot? A keg of it, a dozen fowls, a suckin’ pig, an’ a thousand seegars from the Brazils.” “Aye,” replied Smith, with a reminiscent eye on the humble craft astern. “Aye, Mr. Mate; but I don’t rightly recollect what them same welcome pro- visions cost us.” “Them cost us a polite good-day-to-ye,” returned Mr. Winch; and at this sally of wit the two mariners: laughed heartily. The shabby but speedy fore-and-after was within hailing distance of the brig by noon. A scantily clad fellow hailed the Virtue from the smaller craft’s bowsprit, inquiring in broken English if the Comichooks.com