The Wasp, 1918 · page 189 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 189: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page is from a serialized adventure narrative in *The Wasp* magazine (a 19th-century American satirical publication). The text describes a dramatic shipboard scene involving a character named Trimmer, who kills an elderly bishop—described as forced into ecclesiastical robes—apparently as a cruel "joke." The passage depicts Trimmer's mood shifting from manic laughter to dangerous rage when the crew doesn't share his amusement. A "beautiful young woman" witnesses the killing and turns pale with fear. The scene culminates with Trimmer drawing pistols, suggesting imminent violence. This appears to be **adventure fiction** rather than political satire—the kind of sensational melodrama *The Wasp* serialized for entertainment. The "joke" of killing a bishop reflects period dark humor and anti-clerical sentiment, but the primary purpose seems narrative tension rather than editorial commentary. Without more context about the broader story, specific character identities remain unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
180 THE Wasp | gowned in silk, wonderful and distracting to — behold. “The man’s a fool,” muttered Wells to Bore ham. ‘‘He has gone mad overnight. He is holding a candle to the powder this minute.” — The unfortunate ecclesiastic had been forcibly attired in his hot and costly robes of office. He was an old man, sore stricken with fever and — terror. Heslipped limply from the captain’s arms to the deck. Trimmer lifted him to his feet again—and behold, he was dead! It was a capital joke. Trimmer laughed = uproariously, but keen ears detected a note of apprehension in his laughter. No one else _joinedinhis mirth. They werein so evil a mood that their eyes were blinded even to the humour of a dead bishop. oS Oaths were muttered. James Burakom smiled ironically. Somebody sneered. The beautiful young woman, unmoved by the fate of the aged prelate, glanced toward the sullen company and turned pale with apprehension. = Trimmer ceased his laughter and began to Eg glare. A volley of astounding oaths burst from him. Hedrewa brace of pistols from the pockets of his flowered-silk coat. His mood, too, had ~ become dangerous. : icomicbooks:com ||