The Wasp — 1895 — page 34: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical story by Geraldine Matthews mocks a husband named Piedmont who resents his wife's telegram expenses. The narrative follows their San Francisco marriage, where his wife repeatedly sends costly telegrams to him while he's away on business in San Mateo. The humor targets Piedmont's penny-pinching hypocrisy: he complains about her quarter-dollar telegrams while freely spending on his own pleasures. The story depicts marital friction over small expenses and suggests masculine control over household finances. The accompanying illustrations show the couple's arguments and reconciliation moments. The page also features an Ayer's Sarsaparilla advertisement, typical of period magazine placement.