The Wasp — 1888 — page 303: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising**, with a small satirical story titled "A Shot That Went Wide of the Mark" occupying the upper center. The story mocks a man named Boreall who enjoys practical jokes. The narrative describes an escalating series of pranks—including jokes about shoes and cow boots—that backfire when Boreall becomes the victim. The humor targets someone who cannot take what he dishes out: he's depicted as hypocritical and thin-skinned. The joke's point appears to be **social satire about comeuppance**—ridiculing men who abuse others with pranks but lack the resilience to endure the same treatment. This reflects period attitudes about masculine dignity and reciprocal fairness. The remainder consists of legitimate business advertisements for San Diego real estate, Sacramento candy manufacturers, banks, hotels, and optical services—typical of *The Wasp*'s commercial support model.