The Wasp — 1889 — page 368: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains several humorous short stories and anecdotes rather than political cartoons. The pieces satirize American social issues of the era: **"Oklahoma"** mocks the Oklahoma land rush and frontier life, presenting it as lawless and uncivilized. **"At a Drinking Fountain"** satirizes Prohibition through a dialogue where someone repeatedly urges a reluctant woman ("Sadie") to drink, highlighting the absurdity of prohibition enforcement and social pressure. **"The Sly Way in Which Prohibition Works"** describes a cattle dealer's hypocrisy—publicly strict about prohibition while privately selling liquor from a haymow, exposing how the wealthy evaded alcohol laws. **"Senator Sawyer Sees Baseball"** and other pieces appear to offer lighter social commentary on American life and leisure. The overall theme critiques Prohibition's ineffectiveness and the gap between public morality claims and private behavior among the wealthy.