The Wasp — 1891 — page 565: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising** for San Francisco businesses (liquor dealers, insurance companies, pianos, office furniture), with a small illustration and poem titled "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" by Walter C. Quevedo. The central illustration depicts a man in a top hat examining two young women, with text suggesting it's titled "Examination Day in Carbonville." The accompanying poem compares two maidens—one blonde, one brunette—and appears to be a lighthearted romantic verse about the speaker's inability to choose between them, ending with a reference to "Baby May." Without clear historical context, the cartoon's specific satirical target is **unclear**. It may reference a local event or social custom, but the reference is lost to modern readers.