Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, February 1922 · page 12 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #30 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine contains several short humorous anecdotes mocking social conventions and everyday frustrations: **The opening joke** satirizes matrimonial pressure—a man suggesting an unmarried woman would look better holding a baby, which she dismissively rebuffs. **The "Chief Bloberger" section** mocks the "hobo problem" of Depression-era America: vagrants traveling rail lines, described as unemployable, dangerous, and burdensome to rural communities who must feed them or face property destruction. **The "Extra! Extra!" announcement** is absurdist humor announcing an impossible stunt (diving into concrete while playing ukulele), satirizing both sensational news and the absurdity of fundraising gimmicks. The charity for "starving plumbers of Chicago" appears to be a nonsensical punchline. **The final anecdote** (text cuts off) appears to be setting up a pun about the salesman trying a "sailor" (hat style) on the wife—likely implying the narrator misunderstood "sailor" as a person rather than a hat type. The overall tone is crude, slapstick humor typical of 1920s men's magazines.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang next to the girl addressed her thusly: “My, what a nasty little dog. Don’t you think, my young lady, it would look much nicer if you had a little baby in your lap?” “No,” the pretty one replied in calm even tones, “it wouldn’t. You see I’m not married.” * * * CHIEF BLOBERGER surveyed a party of hoboes coming down the Great Northern tracks. “Here they come, hog fat and crummy, short pipes and red noses. Won’t work, ain’t allowed to shoot ’em, and if you don’t feed ’em they’ll burn your barn daown.” * * * Extra! Extra! Ladies and gentlemen: Don’t fail to be in Robbins- dale next Tuesday at four o’clock A. M. to witness the dar- ing feat of Peter, our hired man. This brave snoose- grinding son of toil will endeavor to dive off the top of the highest building in Robbinsdale into a six-foot tank of solid concrete, playing the ukelele, eating raw liver and keeping perfect time. The spectacular dive by Pete will be for a worthy cause. All proceeds from the entertain- ment will be donated to the starving plumbers of Chicago. Admission free. * * * TOOK my wife into a store to assist her in buying a new hat. Like all women, she tried on nearly every hat in the store. In desperation the salesman appealed to me with this remark: “How would you like me to try a sailor for your wife?” Having been in the