The Wasp — 1895 — page 68: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes upper-class affectation and hypochondria. Two well-dressed figures emerge from an opera house into rainy weather. The man complains of "dyspepsia" (indigestion), claiming he's "afraid I'm in for something serious." The woman dismissively suggests he simply "tip the waiters, of course"—implying his supposed ailment is trivial and can be cured by generous gratuities. The joke mocks wealthy patrons who attribute minor discomforts to serious conditions while viewing monetary generosity as a cure-all. The detailed street scene with other umbrella-carrying pedestrians emphasizes this as a social observation about San Francisco's opera-going elite. The signature reads "Epling" (the cartoonist).