The Wasp, 1918 · page 174 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 174: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized novel or story within *The Wasp* magazine (Chapter XI), not a political cartoon. It depicts a tense confrontation between characters. **The Scene:** A young woman addresses "Captain" Burnham, a gentleman of fallen fortunes from Berkshire. She recognizes his genteel manner despite his poverty. When one of Burnham's rough companions (Bolt—a former mutineer and ruthless fighter) mocks Burnham's authority with laughter, Burnham responds with menacing quiet, asking who spoke, then directly confronting Bolt by name. **The Satire/Point:** The passage explores class dynamics and masculine authority. Burnham's gentility is undermined by his association with "mutineers" and common fighters. His dangerous, controlled response to insubordination suggests simmering tension—a man of quality asserting dominance over social inferiors through intimidation rather than legitimate rank. The tone suggests this is adventure or pirate fiction exploring themes of degraded gentlemen and rough-hewn men competing for power.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
XI “You are of the—the quality, as you say it, captain?” queried the young woman, in halting English, but with perfect composure. “Is it not? I see it by your manner. You are the gentry, sir.” : “A poor, disinherited gentleman of Berkshire, madam,” replied Burnham. ** But he bain’t the-cap’n, for all his quality,” said one of the fellows on the threshold with a gusty hoot of laughter. Burnham turned upon the speaker slowly, with a droop of the lids and a harsh, sidling twist of the mouth. His eyes glinted. “* Did I hear any one speak ? ” he asked softly. “ Bolt, did you speak ? ” Bolt was a strapping fellow of iddie age, with small eyes and heavy jaws. He was one of the recruits from the mutineers and ranked high among them as a ruthless fighter. “Ye heard me, Jim Burnham,” he said, 165 .comlicnooks.com