The Wasp — 1893 — page 337: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two separate pieces. The main article "A Gay Old Rake" satirizes San Francisco's wealthy elderly men and their pursuit of younger women, depicting their moral hypocrisy beneath claims of respectability. It specifically mocks an old man's attempts to seduce a young woman by positioning himself as a sophisticated patron. The "Those New Stamps" section includes three small cartoon illustrations (a woman, a postman, and a woman's profile) accompanying brief comedic exchanges about postal matters. The humor appears to target bureaucratic absurdities and everyday social interactions. The page also contains a poem titled "My Stately Friend" celebrating owls as noble creatures, and an advertisement for California Hotel Billiard Parlors. The overall tone reflects The Wasp's characteristic irreverent social commentary on San Francisco society and institutions.