The Wasp, 1918 · page 197 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 197: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **narrative prose rather than a cartoon**, appearing to be from a serialized story within the satirical magazine. The text describes a conversation between two characters: an unnamed "excellency" (likely a person of high rank) and **Alexander Burnham**. The excellency mistakes Alexander for someone named **James**, whom Alexander believes is safely in Jamaica. The confusion and physical resemblance between the two men creates dramatic tension. The passage reveals family conflict: James and their father had "a slight disagreement" before James left home, and James is described as "headstrong"—referenced as "the black goat of his family" (meaning the disreputable member). Alexander worries his father may have misjudged James's character. Without seeing the accompanying illustration or knowing the magazine's date, **the specific satirical target remains unclear**—this appears to be dramatic fiction rather than direct political satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
188. THE WASP an impostor might have his shoulder marked. so for the very purpose of imposing on people ; but our friend James is of your height, of your weight and size, | swear; and as like you in face, save for the colour of his eyes, as one round shot is like another. You are pale, sir!_I did not mean to administer a shock, sir, upon my soul! I’m a blundering old fool. Take my arm, lad. Come to the open air.” “Really, your excellency, it is nothing,” said Alexander. “The sun of yesterday, per- haps. I was shaken a little at your news—for a moment. I thought James safe in Jamaica, engaged in commerce. He—he and my father had a slight disagreement before he left home. He is inclined to be headstrong—at least so I gathered from what By father told me. I am anxious about James.” ; Alexander Burnham returned to his s ship ah : apprehension still awake in him, but the emotion of bewilderment dominating his mind. Why had the black goat of his family come to Nevis? And how was it possible that he had won Captain Nash’s friendship as well as his gratitude ? Could it be that his father had been mistaken in his reading of James’s character, and had made a cruel blunder.in his treatment of him? comicbooks:com_ iy : =