The Wasp — 1890 — page 373: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily an **advertising page** from *The Wasp* magazine, with minimal editorial cartoon content. The page features numerous advertisements for local San Francisco businesses: gas stoves, carpets, upholstery, land agents, and patent medicines. The only identifiable narrative content is a short story titled **"Satisfied with Himself,"** about a man named Jones who performs an act of charity toward a woman with a baby, then boasts about it to associates. The accompanying illustration shows Jones patting a child's head while adults look on. The satire appears to target **self-congratulatory behavior**—Jones expects praise for minor generosity but the narrative suggests his pride in the act is excessive and self-serving. This reflects common Gilded Age satirical themes mocking performative charity and false modesty among the middle class.