The Wasp — 1893 — page 343: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page mocks various aspects of leisure and social activities through humorous vignettes. The sketches depict mishaps and indignities associated with outdoor recreation: - "The Merry Excursion Boat" shows an overcrowded vessel listing dangerously - "The Metropolitan Picnic" depicts well-dressed urbanites - "Poisoned Oak" references a common hazard - "Lumber in Limbo" and "Enjoying a Siesta" show people getting injured or uncomfortable - "Never Touched Me" depicts someone struck by something - "Our Glorious Climate: The First Picnic" shows people struggling with rain The satire targets pretensions of leisure-class recreation, highlighting the comic gap between genteel expectations and messy reality—crowding, accidents, weather, and physical discomfort that plague actual picnicking. The tone is lighthearted mockery of middle and upper-class recreational activities.