The Wasp — 1895 — page 418: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical social vignettes mocking California's newly wealthy elite and social climbers: **"Different"**: Two gentlemen discuss rival Phineas Fogg's boast about circumnavigating the world in 100 days—apparently an affectation to impress the California Club of Los Angeles with his worldliness and wealth. **"The Cook Book to Blame"**: A husband blames a cookbook for dinner failures, implying his wife's incompetence in the kitchen—satirizing both marital dynamics and domestic expectations. The top section introduces "Men and Women We Read About," featuring California society figures like Mrs. Atherton and Colonel Bradbury, portraying them as pretentious newcomers attempting to establish themselves as cultured members of "civilized society." The satire targets California's newly wealthy for their conspicuous displays of sophistication and status-seeking behavior.