The Wasp, 1918 · page 137 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 137: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains narrative fiction rather than a political cartoon. It depicts a duel between two men—Stanton and Burnham—fought with swords on a beach at sunrise. The text describes their technique, physical positioning, and psychological states during combat. The passage emphasizes Burnham's composure and skill despite tactical disadvantages (Stanton positions him facing the rising sun, causing glare in his eyes). Burnham remains "undismayed" and parries attacks "with ease and composure," while Stanton—described as "heavy but artful"—grows increasingly desperate, breathing and striking heavily. Without additional context about when this was published or who these characters represent, I cannot definitively identify them as political figures or explain specific satirical intent. The narrative appears to be a serialized adventure or dramatic story rather than editorial commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
128 ‘THE WASP- The blades stood motionless, as if welded to- — gether; but the muscles of the naked arms rippled and twitched. Wrists were being tested. The two men stood eye to eye. Their feet began to shift position a little on the firm sand. Stanton lowered his point suddenly and thrust. His point caught, for a fraction of a second, in the fold of linen between Burnham’ s shoulder and elbow, and he was forced to recover with a jump. Burnham smiled slightly. _ And now the fighters began to stamp and side- step, stand poised, advance a little, retire a little, like dancing- masters; and the slender blades struck and glanced and writhed the one upon the other, and the silver eNEte tinkled - more than once. The sun came clean out of the sea with a ee of colourless fire and struck his white glare fairly into Burnham’s eyes. The heavy but artful ~ Stanton had worked around to the position he || wanted. Yet Burnham seemed undismayed. ~ - He turned a thrust aside with ease and composure. His eyes did not narrow or flinch before the full _} glare of the sun; at least, the lids did not move, though the pupils contracted to pin-points. | Stanton breathed heavily and struck heavily | -to-beat in the other’s guard. The seconds began |