The Wasp — 1890 — page 405: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Wasp* page combines three satirical elements: **"The Baseball Season" illustrations** (top) depict wasps in baseball scenarios—"Fowl caught," "Picked up in the field," "Knocked over the fence"—as anthropomorphic puns on the magazine's mascot engaging in the sport. **"A Remarkable Man"** profiles someone (likely a California politician or notable figure based on context) who traveled to Europe and Egypt, returning with opinions on civilization. The satire mocks his pretensions and self-importance. **"Doubtful Darwinism"** (bottom cartoon) shows a father confronting his resemblance to an ape, humorously questioning whether his ancestors were primates—a jab at contemporary debates over Darwinian evolution and its implications for human dignity. The page blends sports humor, travel-narrative mockery, and scientific satire typical of *Wasp*'s irreverent California social commentary.