The Wasp — 1896 — page 965: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features two separate cartoon vignettes titled "The Reason," depicting exchanges between well-dressed couples. The sketches appear to satirize marriage and wealth dynamics of the era. The top exchange mocks a couple's relationship: a woman asks why her husband no longer loves her, and he responds with materialistic reasoning—suggesting financial considerations drive the marriage rather than affection. The bottom scene similarly presents a cynical view of matrimony, with one character commenting on a wife's sudden beauty and another responding that she "buys the best there is"—implying her attractiveness is purchased rather than natural. These cartoons satirize the transactional nature of upper-class marriages and the role of money in determining romantic relationships during this period. The rest of the page consists of business advertisements typical of the era.