The Wasp, 1918 · page 97 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 97: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page excerpts a narrative (likely serialized fiction) rather than presenting a cartoon. It depicts a confrontation between two men: Stanton and James Burnham, apparently on an island setting. Stanton has accused Burnham of cheating at play and is challenged to prove it—a taunt that exploits Stanton's social vulnerability ("your word" versus Burnham's authority on "this island"). Burnham's dominance is conveyed through physical description ("hell of ice and white fire"). The passage captures Stanton's internal conflict: he's humiliated and angry but also afraid of Burnham, which itself shames him. He regrets his outburst and his inability to act. **The satirical point appears to be about masculine pride, social hierarchy, and the gap between internal emotion and external performance**—Stanton must drink with his antagonist while seething. Without knowing the broader context or publication date, the specific social critique remains unclear, though this seems to mock upper-class masculine posturing and dueling culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
88 THE WASP Cry out that I cheated you in play—and then _ | prove it. Aye, prove it! See if your wordis _ better than mine on this island! ”’ . Stanton trembled and lost colour, and -his glance shifted from James Burnham’s terrific regard. To look into Burnham’s eyes just then © was to look into a hell of ice and white fire. ‘*17ll follow you to the garden,” he stam mered. “After breakfast,’’ said Burnham, laughing pleasantly. ‘And now I must insist on your trying a glass of this punch. Sam, the gentle- man will drink—and I will join him in a glass. To our next meeting, sir!” They both drank, Burnham with an ironical | bow and a sardonic leer, young Stanton mechani- | cally and hurriedly. Stanton was confused with | shame and rage and Some very much like | fear. 4 It was of this emotion so closely resembling ae fear that he was ashamed. He wished this | fellow Burnham to the lower regions; but he felt no very keen appetite for the task of sending him there. He wished heartily that he had kept a guard on his tongue. At one and the same time he inwardly cursed his lack of discretion and his lack of courage. | He was no coward—so he told himself, and it 7 > fcomicbooks:cor