The Wasp, 1918 · page 152 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 152: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized fictional story rather than a political cartoon. The text depicts a scene where characters Burnham, Trimmer, and Todd negotiate Burnham's circumstances. The satire here targets **criminals and "gentlemen of fortune"** (a period euphemism for pirates/highwaymen). Burnham has seventy guineas and faces either returning to England (where his father will turn him in as a highwayman) or returning to Nevis. Trimmer recruits him into what appears to be a criminal enterprise, with the darkly comic understanding that refusal means Trimmer would name a worse "alternative course"—likely death. The humor relies on the cavalier attitude toward criminality and the implicit threat delivered as casual banter. Todd, described as not looking "much like a gentleman of fortune," appears to be an unwilling or unsuitable recruit taken as part of the deal. Without seeing illustrations or knowing *The Wasp*'s publication date, the specific historical context remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 143 quaking knees. Burnham could see that they were questioning Todd; and he smiled, produced his pipe, filled it, and lit it. His hands did not tremble in the somewhat trying task of striking a light with his flint. Trimmer came over to Burnham’s side and stood silent for a moment, gazing down at him. ‘““ What are your prospects, Jim?” he asked. Burnham laughed. _ *““] have seventy guineas in the litle box there,” he said. ‘‘I cannot go back to Nevis; and if I ever return to England my own father will hand me over to the law for a highwayman. Something went wrong with a certain ring which you gave me, Jack.” “Would you care to join my company?” asked Trimmer. ‘We need men of your kidney ; and for your sake we are willing to take this lad Todd, though he doesn’t look much like a—well, a gentleman of fortune.” “Gladly!” cried Burnham, rising to_ his feet and grinning at the tailor’s son. “I accept your offer with gratitude, and so spare you the 3 uppleasant duty of naming the alternative course for me.’ Trimmer laughed uproariously, and slapped - _ the other’s shoulder. comiclooks.com