The Wasp — 1896 — page 884: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* (an Illustrated Weekly of the Pacific Coast) features a satirical cartoon titled "A Double Misfortune." The sketch shows two men in formal dress encountering each other at what appears to be a cemetery or monument. The caption reads: "Ah, poor John Smith! If the trolley had not run over him it would not be your wife now, Mr. Secondman." The response: "That's so! What a fearful evil the trolley is!" The joke is darkly satirical—Secondman is consoled about his rival's death by a trolley car, yet simultaneously mourns the trolley's existence. The humor derives from the absurdity of lamenting a technological convenience (the trolley) while benefiting from its deadly consequence (eliminating a romantic rival). The sidebar advertises Tabitha Twiggs's "Old Maid's Diary," offering dating advice for women.