Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, May 1922 · page 41 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #33 — page 41: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains **poetry, not a cartoon**—it's from *Captain Billy's Whiz Bang*, a satirical magazine known for humor and social commentary. **"Who Is a Christian?"** by Ella Wheeler Wilcox is a scathing critique of **Christian hypocrisy**, likely written during or after World War I. Wilcox attacks wealthy churchgoers who sit in expensive pews (funded by exploitation), make false prayers, exploit workers with low wages while raising rents, and preach salvation while supporting war. True Christianity, she argues, belongs to those practicing love and justice—regardless of formal religion. **"Thou Art Gone"** is sentimental verse mourning a daughter's death. **The final line—"Fools rush in where husbands fear to tread"**—is a humorous non-sequitur, likely a standalone joke playing on the proverb "fools rush in where angels fear to tread," recontextualized for domestic comedy. The page is primarily **serious social criticism wrapped in poetry**, not visual satire.
📄 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 39 Who Is a Christian? By Ella Wheeler Wilcox Who is a Christian in this Christian land Of many churches and lofty spires? Not he who sits in soft, upholstered pews Bought by the profits of unholy greed And looks devotion while he thinks of gain. Not he who sends petitions from the lips, That lie tomorrow, in the street and mart. Not he who fattens on another's toil, And flings his unearned riches to the poor, Or aids the heathen with a lessened wage, And builds cathedrals with an increased rent. Christ, with Thy great, sweet, simple creed of Love, How must Thou weary of Earth's "Christian" clans, Who preach salvation through Thy saving blood While planning slaughter of their fellow men. Who is a Christian? It is one whose life Is built on love, on kindness and on faith; Who holds his brother as his other self; Who toils for justice, equity and peace. And hides no aim or purpose in his heart That will not chord with universal good. Though he be pagan, heretic or Jew, That man is Christian and beloved of Christ. * * * Thou Art Gone By Thomas Sinley Written at the time of the death of his daughter. Thou are gone from my gaze, Like a beautiful dream, And I seek thee in vain By the meadow and stream. Oft I breathe thy dear name To the winds floating by, But the sweet voice is mute To my bosom's lone sigh. * * * Fools rush in where husbands fear to tread.