Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, April 1922 · page 63 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #32 — page 63: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from the satirical magazine contains several short jokes targeting gender relations and male behavior—common themes in 1920s humor. "Rubbing It In" mocks husbands' pretentious philosophizing: Smith waxes poetic about man's insignificance before nature, only to be deflated by his wife's blunt rejoinder. The kerosene lamp comparison is misogynistic wordplay: men are dim-witted, barely functioning, and unreliable. "Then Maw Used the Rolling Pin" jokes about infidelity through a child's innocent misunderstanding—the punchline suggests Mr. Hopkins complimented his stenographer's figure, implying an affair. The wife's violent response (rolling pin) was a stock comedic trope for angry wives. "Good Yarn" plays on homonyms: a young wife curses while discarding actual yarn for knitting, the pun implying she's frustrated with domestic work or her husband's lies. The "Proficiency" notice sarcastically suggests the town's amateur theater troupe are naturally skilled liars, reinforcing the magazine's cynical view of human nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
62 Captain Billy's Whiz Bang Rubbing It In “My dear,” remarked Smith as they were absorbing the beauties of the Grand Canyon. “Nature is marvelous! Stupendous! When I gaze at this vast expanse it makes me think how puerile, how insignificant man is.” “Huh!” sniffed his better half. “I knew that before we ever came here.” * * * Men are like kerosene lamps; they are not over bright, usually turned down, most always smoke, and generally go out at night. * * * Then Maw Used the Rolling Pin Little Johnny—“Maw, what did Paw mean when he said to that man: ‘You’ve got a good figure?’ ” Mama Hopkins—“I suppose he meant that he got a good price for some land he sold.” Johnny—“Say, Maw, does Paw’s stenographer sell land, too?” * * * Good Yarn “Darn sox!” exclaimed the young married lady as she threw the yarn in the work basket. * * * Proficiency (From Langsford (Pa.) Leader.) On Thursday and Friday evenings of next week, “The Busy Liar,” a comedy from start to finish, will be given. The local members have been practicing for a long time.