The Wasp — 1896 — page 223: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **commercial advertisement** rather than political satire. It advertises "Mrs. Snips Bloomer Parlors," apparently a hair or beauty establishment. The ad notes that a **deposit is required** for customers south of Market Street, and offers a discount on "bloomers where artificial hips are not required." The illustration shows a fashionably dressed woman in a hat, seated at what appears to be a salon, with another figure visible in a mirror. The reference to "bloomers" (loose-fitting trousers) suggests this business catered to women adopting more practical, reform-style clothing—a somewhat controversial fashion choice in this era. The advertisement's tone appears mockingly humorous about women's fashion choices, typical of period advertising aimed at satirical magazine readers.