The Wasp, 1918 · page 15 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains serialized narrative fiction rather than political cartoons or satire. It tells the story of James Burnham, a young man who shot a rival over a woman (Kitty Trimmer, daughter of a tailor in Wantage). After fleeing to London, Burnham was robbed by a highwayman who turned out to be Kitty's brother, John Trimmer. Rather than pursue legal action, they struck a deal: Burnham paid John half his stolen money in exchange for silence about the incident. The story then describes Burnham sending for Kitty to London, where they engaged in gambling and silk-buying for a week. This appears to be a serialized melodramatic tale of scandal, crime, and moral compromise aimed at entertaining Wasp readers.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
6 THE WASP. to studying for the church, and laid a proctor low with a cudgel; he had a tender affair with the daughter of the tailor of Wantage, and first brought it to the ears of the public by discharging a pistol, without warning, at another of the lady’s admirers—an admirer who unfortunately happened to be a magistrate and his own uncle on his mother’s side. : He fled to London after this performance, but on his way was held up by a man in a mask. Thanks to his courage and swiftness, he overcame the gentleman of the road, removed the mask, and discovered John Trimmer, of Wantage, the brother of his light-o’-love and son of the honest breeches-maker. He sat on the highwayman’s heaving chest and laughed ironically. John’s — saddle-bags were fairly well lined with the golden tolls of the road ; and in return for half of that golden lining as agreed to consider the e incident closed. They shook hands on ithe agreement; then John Trimmer went his way and James Burn- ham his. So James arrived in London with full pockets and soon sent to Wantage for Kitty — Trimmer. © : Kitty came, and for a week the game went merrily ; gold was multiplied, silks were bought, comicbooks com)