Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, October 1921 · page 56 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #25 — page 56: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang* (a 1920s satirical magazine) contains three separate humorous anecdotes: 1. **The Subway Incident**: A story about a girl named Rosie on the subway whose mother warns her to keep her leg down because the wind is lifting her dress. The girl replies she's "not deformed," implying she has nothing to be ashamed of. The humor targets prudish attitudes about women's bodies. 2. **All Was Not Well**: A brief joke about a preacher catching his congregation gambling (shooting craps). A parishioner admits he's "paying for his sins"—a dark joke suggesting he's losing money at craps as divine punishment. 3. **A Tiresome Job**: A classified ad from the *Minneapolis Journal* where someone wants to sell their "shoe hospital" (a shoe repair business) because they're tired of sitting all day—mild workplace humor. The overall tone is lighthearted, working-class satire typical of 1920s humor magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
54 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang girl with her mother, and her legs were crossed —that is, the girl’s legs were. As Gus may remember, or rather, as Gus will never forget, there is a subway breeze wafting through these cars, and it was wafting just then. The mother noticed it, and although she spoke sotto voice— whatever that is—we heard her say to the girl: “Put your leg down, Rosie, der vind ist blowin’ der dress up.” “That’s all right, ma,” said the girl, “I ain’t deformed.” And seated directly opposite, we knew that the lady was quite cor- rect. While waiting with a friend the other eve- ning for a Times Square traffic jam to dis- entangle itself, the friend drew our attenion to a taxicab stalled at the curb just where we were standing. Or, to be precise, he drew our attention to the contents of the cab. She was a queen if there ever was one. Said our friend: “Shouldn’t mind being in there with that one.” “We should,” we replied. “Already the clock says $9.60.” * * * All Was Not Well “Don’t yo’ all know it’s wrong to shoot craps?” piped the preacher as he discovered a portion of his congregation pursuing the God- dess of Chance. “Yas, suh,” admitted one parishioner, lan- guidly, “an’ bulieve me, Ah’s payin’ fo’ mah sins.” * * * A Tiresome Job (From Minneapolis Journal) LOOK—I must sell my shoe hospital, as I am getting tired of sitting.. 6383, Journal.