The Wasp — 1896 — page 659: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features "The Old Maid's Diary," a gossip column by Miss Twiggs about women's fashion and beauty trends. The illustrated cartoon shows a woman at her vanity discussing cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments with evident skepticism about their efficacy. The satire targets the beauty industry's false promises: Twiggs mocks women visiting "beauty doctors" who claim to eliminate wrinkles and improve complexions. The column criticizes the vanity and expense of these treatments while also gently ribbing the women who pursue them. The accompanying photograph shows opera singer Olive Fremstad, described as "distinguished." The page concludes with period advertisements for gin, poison oak remedy, and photo-engraving services—typical of early 1900s magazine content.