The Wasp — 1890 — page 383: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two main sections: **Left side:** A dialogue between a newspaper Proprietor and Mr. Squills (likely a staff member or contributor). The Proprietor dismisses Squills's editorial suggestions about the Bratt murder trial and Mrs. Bratt's "misbehavior," insisting the paper must appeal to readers' sensationalism. Squills argues for more dignified coverage, while the Proprietor prioritizes circulation and profit. The satire targets yellow journalism and sensationalism in contemporary newspapers—the tension between editorial responsibility and commercial pressure to publish scandalous content. **Right side:** An illustration depicting a sleeping-car attendant being awakened, paired with commentary mocking servant-class stereotypes and commentary on modern economic life—likely satirizing class hierarchies and servant labor conditions of the period. The page criticizes press irresponsibility and social pretension.