The Wasp — 1888 — page 256: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features **"Wasplets,"** a humor column of brief satirical items and jokes. The prominent illustration shows a **wasp character** (the magazine's mascot) in formal dress. The content satirizes various contemporary social topics: - **Young ladies' seminaries** are mocked as inadequate for educating women - **Chicago grammar** is ridiculed (referencing the Herald's March 1st publication) - **Political commentary** on President Cleveland and Republican politics - **Social awkwardness** among the middle class, including scenes of servants, hats, and family embarrassment - **Theatrical/cultural criticism** of contemporary performances and people The humor relies on **class observation**—mocking pretension, social climbing, and the gap between aspiration and reality among San Francisco's merchant and professional classes. The tone is lighthearted mockery rather than serious political attack.