Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, January 1921 · page 41 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #16 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains a serialized narrative poem—not a political cartoon—from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang*, a popular American humor magazine (1919-1936). The story depicts a moral cautionary tale: Joe, an unattractive stable worker, marries Annie Smith and they have a son. Years of happiness follow until a mysterious gentleman repeatedly visits their cottage, charming young Joe. The man eventually lures the child inside, seducing Annie through flattery and promises of wealth and leisure. The poem morals involve Victorian-era anxieties: a woman's weakness against temptation, class seduction (the "gentleman" preys on a working-class wife), and the corrupting influence of outsiders. The references to "Babylonian wonders" invoke exotic decadence as temptation. Rather than satirizing specific figures, this reflects early 20th-century popular attitudes about female virtue, marital fidelity, and social danger—themes the magazine's audience found entertaining within its mix of humor, advice, and serialized fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang 39 In the summer, when the meadows were aglow with blue and red, Joe, the 'ostler of "The Magpie," and fair Annie Smith were wed; Plump was Annie, plump and pretty, with a face as fair as snow, He was anything but handsome was the "Magpie's" 'ostler Joe. But he won the winsome lassie, they'd a cottage and a cow, And her matronhood sat lightly on the village beauty's brow; Sped the months, and came a baby—such 'a blue-eyed baby boy! Joe was working in the stables when they told him of his joy. He was rubbing down the horses—gave them then and there, All a special feed 'of clover, just in honor of his heir; It had been his great ambition (and he told the horses so) That the fates would send a baby who might bear the name of Joe. Little Joe, the child was christened and like babies grew apace, He'd his mother's eyes of azure, and his father's honest face; Swift the happy years went over, years of blue and cloudless sky, Love was lord of that small cottage and the tempest passed them by. Down the lane by Annie's cottage chanced a gentleman to roam, He caught a glimpse of Annie in her bright and happy home; Thrice he came and saw her sitting by the window with her child. And he nodded to the baby and the baby laughed and smiled. So at last it grew to know him (Little Joe was nearly four), He would call the pretty "gemplum" as he passed the open door; And one day he ran and caught him and in child's play pulled him in, And the baby Joe had prayed for brought about the mother's sin. 'Twas the same old wretched story that for ages bards have sung, 'Twas a woman, weak and wanton, and a villain's tempting tongue; 'Twas a picture deftly painted for silly creature's eyes, Of the Babylonian wonders and the joy that in them lies. Annie listened and was tempted—was tempted and she fell,