The Wasp, 1918 · page 91 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 91: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **no cartoon or satire**—it's prose narrative fiction, likely serialized in the magazine. The text describes James Burnham's pleasant circumstances on the island of Nevis: his favorable position in Governor Nash's household, his courtship of Elizabeth Nash, his light administrative duties, and his social success gambling with English officers and planters. The passage is straightforward romantic/adventure storytelling with no apparent satirical intent. It establishes Burnham's advantageous social position and his pursuit of Elizabeth Nash before some implied complication ("without accident" suggests trouble may follow). The Wasp was primarily a humor magazine, but this particular page appears to be from a serialized story rather than satirical content—common for 19th-century publications mixing editorial cartoons with fiction. Without seeing the illustration (if any exists), and given the earnest narrative tone, **no specific satire or political reference is evident** on this page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
82 ‘THE WASP Elizabeth Nash its heart. So James Burn- ham’s position in society was an enviable one. His position in the governor’s house was all that a young man of pride and spirit could desire. Captain Nash, treated him with consideration and affection, and took his arm whenever they walked abroad together. Elizabeth was his constant companion indoors and out. Early every morning they rode through the jungles and over the hills, or beside the sea, returning before the heat of the day. At his own request James was allowed: to assist the governor in his duties, sometimes as a deputy, sometimes as a secretary. The work was not arduous. Burnham inquired for Peter Queery, but the name was not known on the island. : There was an English regiment stationed in Nevis that had been out of England for almost a year, and it was the officers of this regiment and the most prominent planters that Burn- ham associated when not in attendance upon the governor or Elizabeth. By lucky play he increased his twenty-five guineas to one hundred. So three weeks passed pleasantly and without accident, and Burnham studied Elizabeth Nash sedulously every day. At the end of the three icomicbooks: POON