The Wasp — 1896 — page 777: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising and business directory**, not political satire. It contains: - Multiple San Francisco business ads (Mont-Rouge Wines, typewriters, photo-engraving, bookbinders, breweries) - A humor section titled "HOLIDAYS APART" with brief joke exchanges about cold dinners and typewriter ribbon shopping - "WARNING TO BICYCLE GIRLS," a satirical piece mocking the bicycle craze among women—criticizing their reckless riding, unsafe clothing ("high grade"), and affected behavior - A central illustration showing women on bicycles in exaggerated, undignified poses The bicycle satire reflects late-1890s anxieties about women's independence and "New Woman" mobility. The piece uses mockery to critique women abandoning traditional roles, presenting cycling as frivolous and dangerous behavior rather than legitimate transportation or recreation.