The Wasp — 1891 — page 84: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising with one central cartoon**. The main illustration depicts "The Summer Man"—a narrative poem about a working-class man's summer routine and romantic aspirations. The cartoon shows a working-class man (identified as "Rich Uncle" in dialogue) speaking with a young boy, later interacting with a woman. The poem describes his modest summer pleasures: mountain streams, surfing, and domestic life with family. The satire appears gentle, poking fun at working-class summer entertainment and the man's delusional romantic fantasies ("he bubbles is a sham"). The surrounding ads for Scott's Emulsion, banking services, and Epps's Cocoa indicate this page targets middle-class readers, making the mockery of working-class leisure pursuits the likely satirical point.