The Wasp, 1918 · page 219 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 219: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a narrative passage from a serialized story rather than a political cartoon. The text describes a business negotiation among sea captains regarding monopolizing shipping in certain waters. The key figures are Captain Trimmer (who dominates the discussion through intimidation), James Burnham (initially cautious about the monopoly scheme), Slim Sam (reluctant and deferential), and Wells (notably excluded from speaking by Trimmer). The satire likely mocks aggressive capitalist expansion and monopolistic practices—common targets of *The Wasp*, a San Francisco-based satirical magazine. Trimmer's bullying tactics ("banged the table," called them "silly old women") parody robber-baron methods of the Gilded Age. The reluctance of Burnham and especially Slim Sam to accept command of the second vessel (*Le Diable*—"The Devil") suggests doubt about the scheme's legitimacy or viability. Without identifying the specific historical figures these characters represent, the passage satirizes corporate consolidation through intimidation rather than reasoned argument.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
210 . THE WASP 2 ao He requested Mr. Burnham’s opinion. James replied that he considered the idea of monopoliz- ing the business in these waters to be a splendid one and worthy of his friend Jack ; but he feared that the second schooner might fail to keep up | to the white schooner’s high standard of efficiency. _ Better stick to the one ship, he said. 4 Captain Trimmer did not ask Wells to speak. He banged the table with his fist and called Slim Sam and Burnham silly old women. Then, after a great deal of talk, now violent, now calm, now threatening, and now pleading, he talked them around to his own views of his ambitious | plan. Then he thumped Slim Sam on the back and named him for commander of the second schooner. : Slim Sam jumped ander the captain’s heavy: hand and wriggled away from the honour of commanding Le Diable. He was no sort of fighting man, he protested. He humbly, sug- gested that James Burnham should command . the new schooner. This was finally agreed to by Crammer Wells, — and the others, and James accepted the honour with seeming reluctance. All the officers save Wells returned to the white schooner, Se a strong guard aboard the craitetiotaes com