The Wasp — 1889 — page 422: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains a poem by Aurel M. Best accompanying two illustrations titled "Two Day Dreamers." The illustrations show what appears to be a couple in romantic or intimate situations outdoors. The poem "The Reason" presents a woman's perspective on marrying "Joe," explaining she wed him despite his lack of beauty, wealth, or status. The speaker emphasizes practical rather than romantic reasons, stating "I think 'twas because I *loved him so*" — suggesting either genuine affection or sarcastic resignation. The satirical point appears to critique either marriages of convenience, mismatched couples, or women's limited choices in marriage prospects. The "strange advertisement" preceding it ironically promotes the fictional Smith Center, Washington as a utopian community, heightening the contrast with this realistic, unglamorous relationship.