The Wasp — 1889 — page 94: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains multiple short satirical pieces and poems rather than a single cartoon. The content includes: **"My Pet"** — a poem about a woman with black hair, likely mocking sentimental Victorian poetry about feminine beauty. **Legal/Political Sketches** — Several brief satirical dialogues lampooning: - A close-fisted man (social commentary on miserliness) - Congressional representatives and judges engaged in corrupt or absurd behavior - A polygamist ("He Drove His Wives Tandem") and McKinley's cigar policy debate The pieces target 19th-century American social hypocrisy, political corruption, and legal absurdities. The magazine's humor relies on readers recognizing contemporary figures and scandals, though specific identities aren't always clearly labeled in this excerpt. Overall, it represents typical *Wasp* satirical content: biting social criticism through short comedic vignettes.