Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, July 1922 · page 42 of 67
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #35 — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two distinct satirical pieces critiquing early 20th-century hypocrisy. **"Sisters of the Cross of Shame"** attacks moral double standards around prostitution. The poem mocks legislators and clergy who publicly condemn "sin" while privately visiting brothels ("scarlet" houses). The satire's bite lies in showing that respectable men—senators, churchmen, even sons of "saintly women"—patronize these establishments while society blames the women who work there. The "Sisters" wear shame that isn't rightfully theirs; the real shame belongs to the hypocritical men who visit yet deny the reality. **"Ain't Nature Grand!"** is a crude joke mocking Darwinian evolution theory, suggesting a man found "the missing link" (evolutionary connection between humans and apes) under his bureau—likely referring to a woman or servant, reflecting the era's casual misogyny. The final snippet about a young man courting a widow while whistling a hymn continues the hypocrisy theme: religious pretense masking mercenary romance.
📄 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 41 Sisters of the Cross of Shame By Dana Burnet. The Sisters of the Cross of Shame, They smile along the night; Their houses stand with shuttered souls And painted eyes of light. Their houses look with scarlet eyes Upon a world of sin; And every man cries “Woe, alas!” And every man goes in. The sober Senate meets at noon, To pass the Woman’s law, The portly churchmen vote to stem The torrent with a straw. The Sister of the Cross of Shame, She smiles beneath her cloud— (She does not laugh till ten o’clock And then she laughs too loud). And still she hears the throb of feet Upon the scarlet stair, And still she dons the cloak of shame That is not her’s to wear. The sons of saintly women come To kiss the Cross of Shame; Before them, in another time, Their worthy fathers came. And no man tells his son the truth, Lest he should speak of sin; And every man cries “Woe, alas!” And every man goes in. * * * Ain’t Nature Grand! I’ve made a great discovery, ’Twould make old Darwin blink; I looked beneath my bureau And found the missing link. * * * The good-looking young man whistled “Rock of Ages,” as he held the rich widow on his knee.