Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, June 1921 · page 62 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #21 — page 62: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang* (a post-WWI humor magazine) contains three satirical pieces: **"Rosy Roses of Army Daze"**: A joke about a junior officer ("shave-tail"—military slang for inexperienced officer) at Camp Dix lecturing troops on hygiene. He claims bathing and shaving make him feel "rosy and cheerful," but a soldier points out they lack "Rosy"—likely referencing a girlfriend or prostitute named Rosy, suggesting soldiers' morale depends on companionship, not hygiene. **Limerick about Willy**: A risqué joke about a nude man at a ball claiming to represent Chile (the country), playing on the phonetic similarity. **"Prohibition Proverbs"**: Parodies of traditional proverbs, all mocking Prohibition (the alcohol ban, 1920-1933). These joke that hiding alcohol ("case in the cellar") and secret drinking are common practices, directly satirizing the law's ineffectiveness and public disregard for it. The page reflects post-war American cynicism about government regulations and military life.
📄 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 61 Rosy Roses of Army Daze A Camp Dix, N. J., “shave-tail” was giving his men a talk on personal hygiene. Finishing his verbal exploitation, he said: “ . . . and men, profit by my example; when I finish drilling in the afternoon, the first thing I do is to take a bath and shave; then, when I retire I feel rosy and cheerful.” Whereupon one of his disciples emerged from the ranks with his hand raised to a salute, saying: “Beg pardon, lieuten- ant, but we ain’t got any Rosy.” * * * There was a young person named Willy Whose actions were what you’d call silly; He went to a ball, Dressed in nothing at all, Pretending to represent Chili. * * * Prohibition Proverbs No brew venture, no brew have. Empty flask never won fair lady. A case in the cellar is worth two in the brewery. Much falls between the hip and the lip. He that reckons without his cellar must reckon again. A fool’s flask is soon empty. As you brew so shall you be respected. One good sip deserves another. If you drink before you try, you may repent before you die.