Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, April 1923 · page 11 of 68
Captain Billy's Whiz Bang #44 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains humorous rural American anecdotes, likely from the 1920s. The opening depicts an old mare refusing her owner's demand to return in 20 minutes—a joke about stubbornness and independence. The main content satirizes small-town life in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. It mocks fire chief John Bloberger, who allegedly considered resigning after hearing unfounded rumors of an assassination conspiracy against prominent Americans—poking fun at both gullibility and the Red Scare paranoia of the era. The second anecdote, introduced by Mayor Tom Howard, sets up a tall tale about a vain banker in Anoka with a glass eye. The banker's proposition to Patrick McCarthy—apparently contingent on McCarthy performing some feat—exemplifies the magazine's folksy humor style, where credulous characters and unlikely wagers drive the comedy. The page emphasizes small-town character types rather than national politics.
📄 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 11 then exclaimed in a grumbling undertone: “‘Return in 20 minutes,’ not me; I ain’t going to be ordered about by no young lawyer!” And the old gray mare swished her tail against the whippletree again as she turned her head toward Robbinsdale and the snowbanks. THERE was a rumor going around Robbins- dale recently to the effect that our village fire and police chief, John Bloberger, intended resigning his various positions. Upon investigation it was learned that somebody had told our faithful chief that a plot was being hatched in New York to assassinate all the prominent men in America. TOM HOWARD, mayor of Robbinsdale and dealer in lath, shingles, tar paper, compo board and coal, said he once knew a banker in Anoka, Minn., who possessed a glass eye of which he was very proud. One cold December morning, Patrick Mc- Carthy asked the old money monarch for a loan of $300. Pat was shy on collateral but a voluble talker. After considerable discussion, the banker finally made this sporting proposition: “Now, Mr. McCarthy, if you can tell me, in