Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, April 1922 · page 12 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #32 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang* contains two humorous pieces: **"Humor"** is a whimsical fairy-tale poem by Laura Benet about a mischievous fairy who performs acts of magical insight—showing blind men meadows, making sad people find hope, creating beauty from hardship. It's lighthearted fantasy verse. **"Turn 'im Loose, Judge!"** is a brief courtroom joke mocking the legal system's unreliability. A prisoner initially plans to plead guilty but changes his mind after his lawyer convinces him of his innocence—implying lawyers twist facts and convince defendants of whatever suits legal strategy, regardless of actual guilt. The joke cynically suggests the justice system produces convenient innocence claims rather than truth.
📄 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 “Humor” The following is a vivacious little conceit, entitled “Humor,” culled from Laura Benet’s “Fairy Bread.” (Thomas Seltzer.) A fairy dances In upland pastures, Picking tart crabapples, Swinging low; Twisted and green, Elfin-mouth, lean, His feet may be chained They are never slow. He slyly peeps under Bushes of wonder, Hunts for thistles In hedgerow trees And straight thereafter Tickles to laughter Solemn asses On bended knees. Where his sharp wits go Occasions grow, The blind see meadows Of waving corn; Men mazed with talking Find lost hopes walking When he conjures roses Out of a thorn. * * * Turn ’im Loose, Judge! Judge—Are you guilty or not guilty? Prisoner—I was going to plead guilty, yer honor, but my lawyer has convinced me that I am innocent.