The Wasp — 1888 — page 383: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertisements** (San Diego real estate, Sacramento businesses, hotels) with one substantial poem: "The Red Flannen-Backed Vest" by A. W. Delano. The poem appears to be **humorous verse about working-class life**, narrated by someone defending a cheap red flannel vest against social criticism. The speaker catalogs situations where the vest proved practical—hiding dirt, surviving rough treatment—while others mocked it. The humor lies in celebrating humble, functional clothing over pretentious fashion. The accompanying **illustration** (right side) shows what appears to be a rustic cabin or cabin scene, possibly illustrating the working-class context of the poem. This represents **19th-century American satirical humor**: mocking class pretension while celebrating honest, unpretentious working life—a recurring Wasp theme.