The Wasp, 1913 · page 39 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains serialized fiction rather than political satire or cartooning. It depicts a dramatic narrative about a character named James Burnham adrift in a boat, seemingly under the influence of drugs ("ravages of the drug"), observed by a large shark or sea creature ("that convoying fin"). The text emphasizes Burnham's deteriorated physical and mental state—haggard, rage-filled, starving—as he drifts helplessly at sea. The circling fin represents an immediate mortal threat. Without additional context about *The Wasp* magazine's satirical targets or the larger story, it's unclear whether this fiction carries allegorical political meaning or comments on contemporary social issues. It may simply be adventure/horror fiction serialized for entertainment. The page shows no visible cartoon illustrations, only printed text.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
38 THE WASP cross-fires of green and gold, a long and slender shadow wavered, grew in distinctness, and suddenly a black fin rode the sloping seas like a little sail. The fin circled the lazily riding boat, then sank gently and vanished for a time. The long shadow wavered like a ghost of darkness under the boat’s counter. The sun went down at last, and just before the sudden white stars were lit above the purpling sea, James Burnham awoke again from his heavy sleep and crawled slowly backward from beneath the square of sail-cloth. He stood up in the stern of the boat and scanned the fading horizon. His face was haggard from the ravages of the drug, his hard eyes smoldered, his dry lips were slanted in a grimace of rage and horror. The horizon was empty. He lowered his glance and beheld, dim against the darkling sea, that convoying fin. There was no food in the boat. Burnham drank deep from the oaken breaker, then lay flat on his back and stared up at the stars until sleep returned Comichooks.com