The Wasp — 1878 — page 339: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The page features **"The Very Freakish American Humor"** cartoon showing a figure riding what appears to be a corn cob—likely satirizing American rusticity or agricultural identity. The accompanying text mocks American corn-based culture ("all corn is Maize"). The rest of the page consists primarily of **humorous anecdotes and social commentary** rather than political cartoons, including pieces titled "A Fowl Conundrum," "Darling, Darling Viola," and "Twisted Sentences." These mock various social types: Baltimore men inventing absurd products, Irish laborers, and exchanges between romantic couples. The humor targets **pretension, foolishness, and social awkwardness** of everyday Americans—typical Wasp magazine fare emphasizing satire of ordinary life rather than specific political figures or events.