The Wasp, 1918 · page 20 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be narrative fiction rather than political satire or cartooning. It depicts a dramatic scene involving a character named Burnham who has sold a ring stolen from someone named John Trimmer to a Jewish pawnbroker in Cheapside. When threatened with transportation to Jamaica as punishment, Burnham becomes hopeful—William Stow, described as a stalwart steward, suggests the punishment would be severe (plantation labor and whipping), implying he won't report Burnham. The passage reflects period attitudes toward both Jewish moneylenders (portrayed stereotypically) and colonial punishment systems. However, without identifying the source work, publication date, or broader narrative context, the specific satirical intent remains unclear. The moral judgment of the characters' actions isn't evident from this excerpt alone.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP It ting ye sold to the Jew has been recovered by Sir Bertram Wise. The knight of Hanney has _ sharp eyes and a sharp nose, but he’s-in no mind to see the son of yer father kicking his heels in the wind. Soye’re to go out of England, Master fJames, never to return. Ye’re to ‘go to Jamaica.” : : Burnham’s courage flinched. He remem- bered the ring which he had taken from John Trimmer and sold to the Jew in Cheapside. ~ Was he to be transported to those islands of _ despair ? He turned a colourless face and a sickly - grin upon the stalwart William Stow. “Ts what ye deserve, and no more,”’ said Stow, unmoved. “It’s what would happen to ye were ye my son—which Heaven forbid ! To the plantations ye’d go, like any common thief or slit-purse. Aye, ye would—an’ rot of fever under the whips 0’ the drivers ! ” _ Hope awoke again in Burnham’s breast, for _ it was evident from Stow’s words and manner ' that his fate was not to be so severe as the _ steward would like to see it. 4A little colour _ teturned to his cheeks and his insolent eves _ danced. He laughed sharply. _“ Bravely spoken!” he sneered. “ And now will you be so good as to deliver me your master’s 99 comichooks.com