The Wasp, 1918 · page 96 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 96: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page depicts a confrontation between two men: **Stanton** (an ensign, or military officer) and **Burnham**. Stanton has accused Burnham of cheating him at dice in a private parlor at "Swan Alley"—a reference to gambling and disreputable conduct. Burnham responds with aristocratic composure, calmly issuing a thinly veiled **duel challenge**. He proposes they continue their dispute in "his excellency's gardens" (a secluded spot), with "discreet friends in attendance"—the typical arrangement for a duel. The satire targets Burnham's affected gentility: he speaks politely while making threatening gestures (thrusting his face close), mocking Stanton's indignation and implying cowardice by suggesting he might "run to the governor for protection." This likely reflects *The Wasp's* criticism of corruption, gambling, and the code duello among California's elite—portraying how gentlemen used formal courtesy to mask dishonor and violence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
} THE WASP 87 you! I’m one of the men you plucked in your own parlour in Swan Alley—with loaded dice. D’ye get that, my fine Mr. Burnham of Burnham ?” : “JT hear you,” replied Burnham easily, with a slow smile on his lips and a flickering cross- _ gleam commencing to show in his gray eyes. “| hear you, and I don’t like the porcine quality of your grunt. After breakfast, my fine fellow, Pll take much pleasure in showing you the beauties of his excellency’s gardens. I know of a secluded spot much better suited than this room to the voicing of your ill-bred and un- warrantable assertions; and if we each have a discreet friend in attendance, we'll do very neal Ue i : “What?” exclaimed Stanton. ‘‘Am I in- vited to fight a common cheat ?”’ “You are invited to make less noise,” retorted Burnham, smiling as if he were engaged in the most friendly conversation imaginable, but at the same time thrusting his face within eight inches ofthat of the indignant ensign. ‘“ You are invited, most humbly, to make a mighty effort and try to behave like a person of breed- _ ing,” he continued. “‘ Of course, if your courage . _ fails you, run to the governor for protection. comichooks.com