The Wasp — 1896 — page 321: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **text-based social commentary** rather than a traditional political cartoon. "The Old Maids' Diary" is a satirical column criticizing various social behaviors, particularly among wealthy Oakland women. The diarist mocks: - Young women's obsession with frivolous activities (card games, séances, "mind-reading") - Aristocratic pretension and scandalous behavior among the wealthy - A specific incident involving Clara Witherspoon, described as making embarrassing social blunders The accompanying portrait shows **H. H. Sherwood**, identified as a prominent merchant in the importing business. The satire targets both elite women's frivolousness and the hypocritical upper-class society of early 20th-century Oakland/San Francisco. The rest of the page contains wine advertisements, indicating this was a commercial publication.