The Wasp, 1918 · page 302 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 302: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This appears to be a serialized fiction excerpt rather than a political cartoon. The passage depicts a dramatic domestic scene where Willis, a surgeon, receives an unexpected visit from James Burnham, described as a pirate now dressed as a gentleman in London. The satire targets Victorian hypocrisy: Burnham appears refined and courteous ("trigged out like a dandy at her majesty's court"), yet Willis recognizes him as a "bloody pirate" with "hands reek with the blood of hundreds." The humor lies in the contrast between respectable appearance and brutal reality—a critique of how criminals could infiltrate polite society through fine clothing and manners. Willis's internal conflict (considering whether to inform authorities) reflects period anxieties about lawlessness and social disorder disguised by genteel presentation. The passage critiques both piracy and the shallow judgment of character based on appearance rather than moral substance.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP : 293 and so hastened here to congratulate you. You and I were good friends, Bob !”’. “Yes,” replied Willis awkwardly, remember- ing the rumours he had heard aboard the frigate. “Yes, Jim. Indeed, you are very kind.” ““Give my most respectful regards to your wife, lad,”? said James. ‘‘ I admired her greatly _ in Nevis. I am growing old, Bob—and some- _ thing of a sentimentalist, I fear. Your hand again, lad. Good-night and good-by !” ; With that he turned and went swiftly down the stairs, leaving the surgeon gaping on the threshold. : Willis. recovered his wits at last, took the candles from the servant; and turned into the room. He set the candles on the table and closed the door. “Tt was James Burnham,” he said, peering toward his wife, who sat in the gloom by the open window, beyond the poor light of the candles. ‘‘He came to wish us joy, trigged out like a dandy at her majesty’s court—and a bloody pirate, ’tis said! It would be no more - than my duty, as an honest citizen, to inform the authorities of his presence in London. His hands reek with the blood of hundreds, if we could but see it. His fine clothes are sodden - comichooks.com