The Wasp — 1887 — page 165: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is primarily a text-heavy editorial/satirical page rather than a cartoon page. The content includes several short satirical pieces mocking contemporary issues: railroad robberies and stage holdups becoming routine; a patent-medicine charlatan advertising his nostrum; complaints about a "walking club" whose members are rowdy at dawn; and an anecdote about a gentleman repeatedly sneezed upon by a stranger who refuses to apologize, escalating to physical comedy. The pieces employ characteristic Victorian satirical humor—absurdist social criticism and class commentary. There are also subscription rates and advertising information. Without visible illustrations, the satire relies entirely on written wit targeting everyday urban annoyances and commercial fraud.