The Wasp — 1895 — page 716: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains "Old Maid's Diary," a satirical gossip column mocking upper-class society women. The text ridicules Mrs. Gabb for her pretentious behavior at Del Monte (a wealthy resort), her obsession with social appearances, and her efforts to arrange advantageous marriages for young women. The two illustrations support the satire: "The Agent" depicts a scheming matchmaker or social manipulator, while "A Free Trader" shows a woman in practical dress—likely contrasting the column's mockery of superficiality with genuine independence. The page also advertises the Hotel Pleasanton, a real San Francisco establishment. The overall satire targets the artificiality, materialism, and social climbing of wealthy women in Gilded Age society.