The Wasp — 1895 — page 129: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page collects miscellaneous satirical vignettes typical of late 19th-century American humor magazines. Key sections include: **"A Scientific Observation"**: Mocks a woman named Miss Bloomers for wearing bloomers (then-controversial pants), suggesting her appearance is unfeminine. **"Millionaire"**: Jokes about a wealthy man's son, playing on class privilege. **"Mphun's Joke"**: A barber anecdote about haircuts, poking fun at cheap services. **"A Fish Story"**: Hunters discussing game, likely satirizing exaggeration in hunting tales. **"A Valuable Memento"**: A brief exchange about a ring as family heirloom versus jewelry value. The cartoons mock social pretension, gender nonconformity (bloomers), and working-class life. The humor relies on period-specific class anxieties and attitudes toward women's clothing reform.