The Wasp — 1878 — page 97: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The masthead illustration shows a winged figure labeled "The Very Freshest American Humor," carrying a wheel marked "The Wasp." This page consists primarily of **short humor columns and anecdotes** rather than political cartoons. The pieces mock various social situations: incompetent postal workers, wealthy widows who hide suitors, fashion-obsessed girls forced to skate in winter, and overpaid street workers. One longer piece, "A Texan Desperado," recounts a humorous incident involving a pistol trade. Another titled "Maud Muller Burlesqued" parodies the famous Whittier poem through comic verse about a hay-raking woman. The content targets **middle-class absurdities and social pretensions** rather than specific politicians. It's general satirical commentary on American life and manners.