The Wasp — 1892 — page 292: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a brief romantic exchange between young people, likely satirizing hasty courtship or marriage proposals. The four figures represent a dating scenario: a young man proposes marriage almost immediately ("I say, Tom, don't you want to be an angel?"), and the woman accepts within moments of acquaintance. The satire targets the impulsiveness of romance and marriage decisions, treating serious life commitments as frivolous. The title "Tokelettes" (unclear origin) and subtitle suggest criticism of rushed relationships where couples barely know each other before "life" moves them apart through marriage or circumstance. The page is primarily **advertising**—dominated by product endorsements for champagne, hair dye, bitters, and other goods typical of early 20th-century American magazines.