The Wasp, 1918 · page 221 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 221: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page appears to be from a serialized adventure story rather than a political cartoon. The text describes a maritime narrative involving rival commanders—Burnham and a character called "Trimmer." The plot depicts Trimmer's humiliation when all volunteers choose to sail with the newly appointed Burnham instead. Slim Sam's derisive comment—calling Trimmer a "wooden-headed peacock"—indicates Trimmer is portrayed as vain and incompetent. Burnham responds strategically by enlisting prisoners as crew members, establishing his authority through pragmatism rather than bluster. The satire targets pompous, ineffectual leadership versus competent command. Trimmer represents the type of pretentious but incompetent figure common in 19th-century American satirical humor. The narrative suggests that merit and decisive action earn respect where aristocratic posturing earns contempt.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
212 ‘THE WASP asked for fifty volunteers to sail with Mr. Burn- ham. Every man of the company volunteered to go with the new commander. This was a slap in the face for Trimmer ; but he grinned as if he liked it and set to wotlk to Sle the fifty himself. Burnham, Slim Sam, and the fifty went Shae Le Diable, and Wells and the guard returned to the white schooner. All sail was made on both vessels, and they drew steadily away from each other. James had his twenty prisoners lined up before him, inspected them, threatened them with the plank, and then won their gratitude by enlisting them all. Slim Sam was: his first mate; and ‘together they appointed Welsh Owen second mate, George Tizard third mate and boatswain, a quartermaster, two gun-captains, and the lad Henry Todd to the post of oun S i mate. “We are well rid Of that wooden-headed peacock, Trimmer,” said Slim Sam to Burnham, ~ _rubbing his thin hands together. James glanced at him from under a drooped lid, smiled, but did not speak. - The two retired to the cabin and looked over a chart. At noon James found the schooner’s position. He had — lcomicbooks’com