The Wasp — 1889 — page 145: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several satirical humor pieces rather than political cartoons. The main items are: 1. **"Lines to My Bed"** — A sentimental poem about an old bed, likely mocking overwrought Victorian poetry. 2. **"In Lighter Vein"** — A dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Billiger McSwat about smoking and gun-hunting, satirizing domestic disputes and marital compromise. 3. **"Deacon Staples' Parrot"** — A humorous anecdote about a parrot stealing pickles, poking fun at religious hypocrisy and servant class dynamics. 4. Several short joke items about theater, actors, and social pretension. The satire targets Victorian sentimentality, domestic friction, and social affectation rather than specific political figures. The humor relies on wordplay and exaggeration typical of late-19th-century American satirical magazines.