The Wasp — 1896 — page 266: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main image is a portrait of **King Menelek** of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), labeled as "the Abyssinian Monarch, who has vanquished the Italians in Africa and caused grave complications in Europe." This references the **Italian-Ethiopian War** (likely the 1895-96 conflict), where Menelek defeated Italian colonial forces—a rare African military victory against European imperial powers that shocked Western audiences and had diplomatic repercussions. The page also contains two unrelated satirical pieces: "The Unlucky Poet" (about a sonnet-writer) and "Fervent Gratitude" (about marriage and family property). These appear to be typical period humor columns unrelated to the Menelek portrait. The portrait's inclusion suggests *The Wasp* was documenting a significant geopolitical event with interest in non-Western resistance to colonialism.