The Wasp, 1918 · page 136 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 136: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page depicts a dramatic duel between two military officers: Captain Cross Burnham and a character named Stanton. The text is a narrative description of their preparation and the moment they engage in sword combat. The passage provides detailed physical characterizations—Burnham appears lean and muscular; Stanton is heavier-built but theoretically the regiment's best swordsman despite being out of condition from drinking ("deep cups") and late hours. The satirical magazine *The Wasp* likely used this scene to mock military vanity, officer conduct, or perhaps a specific historical duel or scandal involving San Francisco military figures. Without seeing the accompanying illustration, the specific identities and political context remain unclear, but the tone suggests mockery of masculine posturing and the absurdity of gentlemen's duels as a conflict resolution method.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 127 powdered. His right arm was naked almost to the shoulder, showing a skin as white as milk above the brown wrist and the curves and flickerings of long, lean muscles. Stanton took his ground, under the direction of Throgmorton, with his left shoulder to the east. As they stood, the light was to neither’s advantage. Stanton also was stripped to shirt and breeches. He was a straight, heavily built young man, an inch taller than James Burnham, and perhaps more than an inch longer in the arm. His waist was thick, his hips large, his thighs and flanks round. His fine chest and shoulders were a trifle too heavy. He was certainly not in the pink of condition, although youth and a strong constitution still did much to make good the wear and tear of deep cups and long hours. His big, naked sword-arm was red. His face was white. But theoretically, at least, he was the best swords- man in his regiment. At a word from Captain Cross Buinhan and Stanton saluted each other with their swords. Next instant the blades struck with a tinkle. _ The morning light caught the trembling points _-and flickered there like fire. comichooks.com