The Wasp — 1895 — page 653: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising and promotional content** rather than political satire. The central illustration titled "Illustrated Astronomy" shows two fashionably dressed Victorian women in an astronomical context, with a caption stating "Mars in his orbit moves faster when seen in the vicinity of the Milky Way." The joke appears to be a **double entendre**: the caption playfully suggests that Mars (the Roman god of war, traditionally masculine) "moves faster" when near the "Milky Way"—likely a euphemistic reference to the women's attractiveness or charm. It's a mild Victorian-era flirtation joke rather than serious political commentary. The remainder of the page features advertisements for steamship lines, wine, and other commercial services typical of 1890s California publications.