The Wasp — 1896 — page 456: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a satirical poem titled "His New Typewriter" by "The Head Clerk," accompanied by three portrait photographs of prominent San Francisco men. **The Poem's Satire:** The verses mock a young woman employed as a stenographer/typist. The satire targets her modern education and rapid note-taking skills, while her male employer fantasizes about romantic involvement with her ("Come to me, darling Venus"). The poem suggests workplace power imbalances—the employer uses his authority to pursue her romantically, ultimately providing her a new typewriter, perhaps as inducement or compensation. **The Portraits:** The three identified men (Tibby L. Ford, Dr. Joseph Pescia, and J.F. Fugazi) appear unrelated to the poem's narrative, serving as standard editorial content featuring prominent local figures. The satire critiques both predatory male workplace behavior and the vulnerabilities of women entering the modern workforce.