The Wasp, 1918 · page 122 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 122: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a literary excerpt rather than a cartoon page. The text follows a character named James Burnham, who has experienced social disgrace and financial ruin but has found temporary success through gambling on the island of Nevis. The passage describes Burnham's resilience despite setbacks—he cannot marry Elizabeth Nash before a warship arrives (unclear what this event signifies), yet he remains optimistic, having won money at cards and maintained his health. The satire seems to target **class mobility and social pretension**: Burnham, born to respectability but stripped of honor and family connection, finds himself "pitted against organized society" yet maintains a "devilish" sense of humor about his predicament. The reference to "Kitty" (possibly "Kitty Trimmer," partially OCR'd) suggests romantic entanglement adds to his complicated circumstances. Without seeing the full narrative context or any accompanying illustrations, the specific historical or political references remain unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 113 end of his dreams of re-establishing himself in the comfortable and respectable walk in life into which he had been born. : No exertions on his part could make it possible for him to marry Elizabeth Nash before the arrival of the sloop-of-war. Well, there was an end of that ! Though luck had gone against James Burn- ham in the larger matters of life, it had stood by him in thesmaller. Deprived of honour and place and the love of his own family, yet he had escaped death.at sea and hunger ashore. Here on Nevis, cast penniless among strangers, he had not been called upon to suffer even the petty thorns of humiliation; and now, though dealt a shrewd blow in the matter of his fine plans for the future, he was left considerably better off than he had been upon landing. His - health was good and his pockets were well lined. © His luck at play had been phenomenal. Now he was adrift again and pitted against his old, natural enemy, organized society. He seated itasclé beside an open window of his cool room and thought it all over. His mood ~ _ lightened, excited by his devilish and invincible sense of humour. He thought of Kitty ane, and smiled comichooks.com