The Wasp — 1887 — page 469: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily a **literary/poetry page** featuring "Only a Crust of Bread: A Story of Two Christmas Days" by Leo H. Bing, with the byline "By permission of 'Pearson's.'" The poem tells the story of Christmas Day in a workhouse, contrasting the plight of poor workers and paupers with the indifference of the wealthy and guardians. It's a **social critique** emphasizing class inequality and workhouse conditions during the Christmas season. The **right column contains advertisements** rather than political cartoons—promoting various products and services (saddles, candy, banks, asylums, etc.). **No political cartoon or satire is visible on this page.** The satirical content is literary rather than visual, using poetry to critique Victorian-era poverty and institutional treatment of the poor.