The Wasp — 1894 — page 503: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts two men in conversation at a bar, titled "PROUD OF HIS PATRONYMIC." One man (labeled "MIKE") asks another ("BAR") if he's a connoisseur, then sarcastically suggests "An O'Connor, sir, if you please"—mocking the man's Irish surname. The satire targets anti-Irish prejudice common in early 20th-century America. The joke relies on stereotype: the working-class "Mike" character represents Irish immigrants, while the sarcastic response suggests Irish names were considered laughable or inferior. The cartoon ridicules both ethnic prejudice and class condescension toward Irish-Americans. The page is otherwise filled with advertisements for champagne, hats, and tailoring services, typical of *The Wasp's* satirical-magazine format blending social commentary with commercial content.