The Wasp — 1888 — page 135: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains three distinct sections: 1. **"Mary Ann's Ambition to Become an Actress"**: A dialogue satirizing a woman's theatrical aspirations, with Mrs. O'Flaherty dismissing Mary Ann's dreams as impractical and morally questionable—reflecting period attitudes about actresses' respectability. 2. **"Let the Bairnies Play"**: A sentimental poem celebrating children's freedom and play, contrasting with adult worries. The accompanying illustration shows a working-class girl, likely referencing the era's idealization of childhood innocence. 3. **"Mr. Bowser's Experiment with the Fire Escape Business"**: A comedic account of a man testing fire escape devices, appearing to mock both the inventor's naivety and contemporary industrial safety skepticism. The page reflects late-19th/early-20th-century American social attitudes regarding class, gender, and industrial progress.