The Wasp, 1918 · page 44 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page depicts a cynical encounter between a recently rescued castaway (Mr. Burnham) and a ship's captain (Mr. Smith). The castaway has asked how to dedicate his life to God in gratitude for survival. The captain's response is darkly satirical: he suggests the young man repay divine mercy by taking a dead sailor's berth and working the ship to Barbados—thinly veiling what amounts to indentured servitude or potential sale into slavery. The satire targets religious hypocrisy and predatory maritime labor practices. The captain invokes "Providence" while cynically exploiting a vulnerable man. Burnham, having learned the realities of "western waters" (Caribbean slave trade routes), recognizes the trap: a penniless white man has no protection from being sold to a planter. His sneering response indicates he sees through the captain's false piety and exploitative scheme. The passage critiques both corrupt Christianity and the brutal economics of 19th-century maritime commerce.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 35 shipmaster with dancing eyes and a crooked smile. “Thank you,” he said. ‘“ What sugges- tions have you to make as to the best way for me to begin to dedicate my life to the Lord ? ” Mr. Smith pulled his goatish beard and reflected. He spat tobacco-juice into the scuppers. “* Ye’d best set to work a showin’ yer gratitude to the human instrument o’ yer release from death. by thirst an’ starvation,” he said. ‘‘ Two days out o’ Boston we lost a poor sinner overboard. In that I see the hand o’ Providence, young man. Ye, kin take his berth an’ help us work the brig down to Barbados.” A shadow as of speculation crossed Mr. Boe ham’s glinting gaze. He contemplated the ship- master with an open sneer of suspicion, for he had already gathered enough knowledge of these western waters to lead him to suspect that a penniless and friendless white man here, be he gentle or simple, need look for neither charity nor justice. In his mind’s eye he saw himeelt being sold by the shipmaster to some unconcerned planter in Barbados. So he stared sneeringly and comichooks.com