The Wasp — 1896 — page 121: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily advertising for San Francisco businesses, with one central cartoon titled "Quite Prepared." The cartoon depicts a woman wrapped in what appears to be heavy clothing or blankets, huddled against cold. The accompanying text reads: "Mrs. Brown—You have no excuse for staying out till this time of night! Mr. Brown—(blandly) I'm sorry, but you see I've been standin' round the corner the last half hour thinking of them." The satire humorously depicts a domestic dispute where a husband claims he was outside preparing himself to endure his wife's anger—mentally "preparing" for her cold reception rather than admitting he stayed out late. The joke reflects period gender dynamics and marital tension, playing on the stereotype of wives as formidable domestic authority figures.