The Wasp, 1913 · page 347 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 347: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a fictional narrative excerpt rather than a political cartoon. The text describes a naval scene where an admiral promotes James Fitzwalter, a volunteer gunner, to command the starboard guns—apparently on an irregular, unauthorized basis ("I will see to it that your rank is confirmed later by the so-called proper authorities"). The satire targets naval bureaucracy and the gap between actual merit and official rank. James's dry internal reflection—wondering if he'll be hanged from his own yard-arm when his irregular promotion is discovered—mocks the arbitrary nature of military advancement. The admiral's contemptuous tone ("Fitz-What's-Yer-Name") and his circumventing proper channels suggest institutional hypocrisy: competence is recognized and rewarded, yet through improper means that expose both officer and sailor to potential legal consequences. The joke is on the absurdity of military formalism: a man promoted for genuine ability may face execution for the manner of his advancement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
340 THE WASP He was quick to find fault with his subordinates and equally slow to praise them; but he never found fault with his new master gunner. Perhaps he recognized in Mr. Fitzwalter another lonely soul. The admiral never spoke to James in blame or in commendation; but on the evening of the sixth day out of port he walked down to where the volunteer gunner leaned against one of his guns. James stood straight and touched his hat. The admiral halted before him and glared. “Take command of all the starboard guns on this deck, Mr. Fitz-What’s-Yer-Name, and see that you get crews and guns up to your standard in short order. Shift your hammock and your mess to the gun-room. I will see to it that your rank is con- . firmed later by the so-called proper authorities.” Here was promotion with a vengeance! James was pleased, but in no degree elated; and he was amused. “Suppose they don’t find me out until I’m an ad- -miral?’” he reflected. “Would they hang me to my own yard-arm then, I wonder?” And still he felt no desire to look into the future Comichooks.com