The Wasp — 1896 — page 736: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page mixes fiction and advertising rather than political satire. The main content is "Our Story: Quite Unsophisticated," a serialized romantic narrative about marriage prospects among society figures—Collingwood, Water, and Arlington discussing a woman named Dorothy. The dialogue satirizes upper-class attitudes toward marriage and women's roles, with men dismissing female agency ("she is a Miss Arlington"). The bottom cartoon shows two men in formal dress with the caption "AND ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO BE MARRIED?" suggesting marital hesitation as humor. The right side features advertisements for tonics and spirits (Peruvian Bitters, A.P. Hotaling whiskey), common in period magazines. These promote dubious medicinal claims typical of the era. The page reflects Gilded Age social commentary rather than partisan politics.