The Wasp — 1895 — page 613: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a humorous poem and illustrations about a bicycle rider encountering a tack on the road. The narrative follows a cheerful cyclist who rides out from town, only to hit the tack, which causes a series of comedic mishaps: his bicycle deflates, he crashes, his clothes tear, and he's thrown over the handlebars. The satirical point appears to be mocking the bicycle craze of the era—celebrating cyclists' confidence while showing how trivial obstacles create disaster. The dialogue at the bottom between "Clara" and "Mother" about a "drooping mustache" suggests the humor extends to physical indignity. The right side advertises "The Silver Grill" restaurant and the "Bike Missionary" in Africa, likely connecting bicycles to broader cultural trends of the period.