The Wasp — 1895 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon, titled "Not Premonitory Symptoms," depicts a social scene where a well-dressed man and woman sit together. The dialogue suggests the woman (Maybelle) is flirting or being overly familiar with the man (an "insurance clerk"), causing her companion (Crolly) concern. Maybelle dismisses worries, claiming she "gets drunk too easily"—suggesting her behavior stems from alcohol rather than romantic interest. The satire likely mocks fashionable society women of the era who used intoxication as an excuse for improper conduct, or critiques the casual attitudes toward women's drinking in upper-class settings. The page is primarily **advertising**, featuring watches, hardware, champagne, a hotel, and shoes—typical of period magazine monetization. The cartoon serves as a modest editorial complement to commercial content.