The Wasp, 1918 · page 149 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 149: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative fiction**, not a political cartoon. It depicts a scene from what appears to be a adventure or crime story involving characters named James Burnham and John Trimmer. The plot shows Burnham meeting Trimmer, whom he recognizes as a **highway robber ("toll of the roads") now turned pirate ("toll of the seas")**. Trimmer has apparently escaped legal consequences and recruited a crew of rough sailors. Despite Trimmer's criminal status, Burnham greets him warmly as a childhood friend ("Jack"), approaching unarmed and with apparent admiration for Trimmer's daring escape. The narrative suggests a theme of **roguish camaraderie** — romanticizing outlaws and their exploits. Without knowing the publication date or broader context of this story's satirical intent within *The Wasp*, the specific social commentary remains unclear, though the tone seems to celebrate bold criminality rather than condemn it.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
140 ‘THE WASP _ The man with the musket bowed and flourished — his hat. He grinned. : ‘Welcome to the narrow seas, Master James Burnham ! ” he cried. Burnham got to his feet and returned the salutation in silence. His face showed no more emotion than a wooden mask ; but his keen eyes flickered over Trimmer and Bis company, and his mind jumped to the true and amazing conclusion that John Trimmer had escaped the clutch of the law and-was now taking toll of the seas as ~ he had taken toll of the roads. _ There was no mistaking the calling of the fellows in the long-boat. Again his glance flickered over those hardy and villainous faces. _ Even the rowers had twisted around on the thwarts and were staring at him. He felt a glow of admiration for John Trimmer. The rowers threw their oars inboard and the boats touched and lay gunwale to gunwale. James Burnham smiled, stepped lightly from the fishing-boat into the crowded long-boat, and extended his hand to John Trimmer. He was — unarmed. c “Well met, John Trimmer !.” he said heartily. “Good morning to you, my brave lads all. | Jack and I are boyhood friends. Jack, you — | icomicbooksieom |