Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, March 1921 · page 45 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #18 — page 45: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical poems from an early 20th-century humor magazine. The content addresses working-class anxieties and social hypocrisy: The opening poem critiques mercenary women who withhold affection unless paid, while condemning an unmarried girl made pregnant by poverty and desperation—condemned by society despite Christ's forgiveness. "The Night Before Pay Day" humorously depicts the financial desperation of a wage worker with empty pockets before payday, personifying time and money as characters. "Hubby came home, tangle-footed" mocks alcoholism and domestic dysfunction, with a wife demanding her husband fetch more liquor. The final entry jokes about a typist named Irene Talbot working for "Dave A. Masterbilt" (likely a play on "master-built"), marking letters "DAM/IT"—suggesting frustrated workplace professionalism. Throughout, the satire targets poverty, alcohol abuse, sexual double standards, and working conditions of the era.
📄 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 43 She kept with care her beauties rare From lovers warm and true— For her heart was cold to all but gold, But honored WELL are charms to sell If rites the SELLING do. Now walking there was one more fair— A slight girl, lily-pale; And she had unseen company To make the spirit quail— 'Twixt Want and Scorn she walked forlorn, And nothing could avail. No mercy now can clear her brow, For this world's peace to pray; For, as Love's wild prayer dissolved in air, Her woman's heart gave way!— But the sin forgiven by Christ in Heaven By man is cursed alway. * * * Ring around the rosy, Cellar full of booze; We can have a party Any time we choose. * * * The Night Before Pay Day 'Twas the night before pay day and all through my jeans I searched but in vain for the price of some beans. Not a quarter was stirring—not even a jit; The coin was off-duty—milled edges had quit. Move forward! Move forward! Oh time, in thy flight, Make it tomorrow—just for tonight. * * * Hubby came home, tangle-footed, His wife met him at the door, Grabbed the bottle from his pocket— "Empty? Go and get some more!" * * * Irene Talbot, skillful typist, Works for Dave A. Masterbilt. Writes a neat and snappy letter, Marks it in this way: "DAM/IT."