Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, October 1921 · page 39 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #25 — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang* (a humor magazine) announces upcoming poetry features rather than presenting cartoons. The content centers on sentimental and prison-themed verse. The page promotes two poems: a Civil War classic about a Confederate officer's lost love, and "The Prisoner's Prayer," written by Arthur Winter on a McNeil Island prison wall in 1909. Winter's poem expresses prisoner resentment—suggesting divine injustice through imagery of lingering anger and punishment. The magazine frames these as noteworthy contributions to its "Smokehouse Poetry" column, appealing to readers' nostalgia (the Civil War poem) and interest in authentic prisoner testimony. The tone suggests *Whiz Bang* positioned itself as a platform for unconventional voices, including incarcerated writers. The plea to "send your dollar" indicates this was a subscription incentive for the upcoming Winter Annual.
📄 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 37 Smokehouse Poetry In the November issue Smokehouse Poetry will bring back to memory that Civil War classic, “Your Letter, Lady, Came Too Late.” This beautiful and touching poem was written by an officer of the Confederate Army to the most beautiful and brilliant belle of Savannah, the fiancee of the officer’s companion in prison. The woman had written a cold, heartless letter, but her fiance had died before the let- ter was received and the poem was in answer to it. Tonight your home may shine with lights, And ring with merry songs, And you be smiling as though your soul Had done no deathly wrong. Your hands so fair, none would think Had penned these words of pain, Your skin so white, would God, your heart, Were half so free from stain. In addition to this noted classic, Whiz Bang will repro- duce “Down In the Lehigh Valley,” which is well known by name among Smokehouse fans. And, in parting, folks, don’t forget that the Winter Annual will contain the greatest as- sortment of Smokehouse poetry ever put into print. Send your dollar in before you are too late. * * * The Prisoner’s Prayer This poem was written by Arthur Winter on the wall of the Federal Prison at McNeil Island, Washington, in Sep- tember, 1909, and later memorized by another prisoner and forwarded to the Whiz Bang upon his release. We offer it to you for what you think it is worth. Our prayer has gone up through the ages To a God whom they say gave us souls; But the fever of anger still rages, The thunder of punishment rolls.