The Wasp, 1913 · page 327 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 327: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative fiction rather than a cartoon**—it's a serialized story installment from the satirical magazine. The text depicts a melodramatic encounter between two characters: James, a gentleman caller dressed formally ("marquis or a duke"), and Kitty, apparently a married woman in distress. The scene suggests a domestic tragedy involving infidelity or abandonment. James claims he previously beat Kitty's husband (though disguised with a beard), yet insists he never harmed Kitty herself. She fears and despises him, calling him "evil." **The satire likely mocks**: Victorian melodrama conventions, the hypocrisy of "gentleman" behavior, and marital discord among the wealthy or fashionable classes—typical subjects for *The Wasp*'s social commentary. Without seeing accompanying illustrations or knowing the full serialization context, the specific political figures or events referenced remain unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ED 320 THE WASP James drew his sword, and, with a knife in his left hand, ascended the shaking stairs, for this was a risky place for a gentleman dressed like a mar- quis or a duke. But, as he arrived on the landing © he returned the sword to its scabbard and the knife to its sheath, and rapped softly on the door. The door was opened by Kitty. James stepped smartly within and shut the door behind him. Kitty uttered a little cry and recoiled from him fearfully. She fled to the farther side of the little table. “You!”’ she cried, with a hand on her breast. “TI knew you—that night you came and beat him— though you wore a great beard. He did not know you. Why have you come? Is not my misery black enough as it is?” James bowed, hat in hand. He smiled grimly. “Calm yourself,’ he said. “I have no intention of beating you, my dear. I leave that to your charming husband. You will be good enough to remember that I never so much as raised a hand against you in my life. Why are you afraid of me? Why do you hate me?” “TI think you are the evil one,” she replied faintly. Comichooks.com