The Wasp — 1895 — page 1048: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a conversation between two figures identified in the dialogue as Miss Burlingame and Mr. Menlo Park. Miss Burlingame expresses concern that giving Christmas cards is "not considered fashionable now," while Mr. Menlo Park dismisses her worry, noting he received a "stack" of cards last Christmas and wants to regift them to save money on presents. The satire mocks both Christmas card etiquette anxiety and the penny-pinching practice of reusing old greeting cards rather than purchasing new ones. The small dog suggests this is a domestic/social scene. The cartoon ridicules cheapness disguised as fashion consciousness—a timeless target of satirical humor about holiday commercialism and social pretense.