The Wasp — 1887 — page 256: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a short story titled "A Wily Old Gentleman" about an elderly man who observes a young man on a train and attempts to swindle him by offering a "jeweled ring" supposedly worth fifty dollars for examination. The young man agrees but then produces evidence the ring is worthless—it came from a cheap piece of jewelry he'd deliberately planted. The old man, caught in his own con, must return the ring. The accompanying illustration shows a fireplace scene with decorative vignettes. The satire targets common street swindles of the era, mocking both the con artist's assumed superiority and his comeuppance when facing a cleverer opponent. It's a morality tale celebrating wit over dishonesty.