Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #16 — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Captain Billy's Whiz Bang 37 years. Eventually driven to a separation, she still endured in silence, without resort to the unsavory pub- licity of divorce, reflecting upon her growing sons. These children came of age last winter. The wife then made a last brave effort toward reconciliation. There was a brief reunion—ending in a disgraceful visit of the 45-year-old duke to Paris with a 25-year-old female companion. Blood will tell—the plain American kinds and likewise the tainted blue sort that trickles through “noble” veins. Noah was building the ark. A gang of “drys” hung around criticizing the job. “Ever built an ark before?” asked the leader of the gang. “Nope,” replied Noah, pounding away. “By what right do you assume that this boat will be a success?” asked the other. “This has always been a dry country and there has never been any need for a so-called ark. What experience have you had with your so-called ark upon which to base so absurd a claim as that it will float? Don’t you know that umbrellas and gaiters have gotten us through the thun- derstorms for the last forty years? There can be no hope of success for your so-called ark.” But Noah kept on building away. Then came the Deluge, and for once in history, the knockers got what was coming to them.