The Wasp — 1890 — page 258: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **society gossip and entertainment news**, not political satire. The "Society" section reports on San Francisco's elite—their dinners, travel plans, and social events at locations like Del Monte and Santa Barbara. The single cartoon, titled **"Wanted to Be Sure,"** depicts two men in formal dress. The dialogue ("And will you share my lot?" / "How much is it worth?") satirizes **mercenary attitudes toward marriage or partnership**—suggesting cynicism about whether people commit based on genuine affection versus financial gain. The page reflects Gilded Age social preoccupations: wealth, leisure travel, prominent family names, and marriage prospects among the upper classes. The cartoon's humor relies on exposing hypocritical materialism beneath Victorian propriety.