The Wasp — 1896 — page 620: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* magazine contains a short story titled "A True Story" rather than political cartoons. The narrative depicts an editor at a monthly magazine receiving a manuscript from an aspiring female writer. The illustrations show the editor's dismissive reaction and the young woman's subsequent persistence in submitting her work. The satirical point targets gatekeeping in publishing: the editor initially dismisses female contributors, yet ultimately publishes her story when she persists. The narrative mocks both the editor's condescension toward women writers and celebrates the woman's determination to break through institutional barriers. The remainder of the page comprises period advertisements for products like Peruvian Bitters and Adams' Pepsin Chewing Gum—typical commercial content for magazines of this era.