The Wasp — 1890 — page 136: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains three distinct satirical pieces: 1. **Top cartoon**: Depicts a young husband and wife disagreeing about "making up"—he refuses while she insists. The satire mocks marital discord and changing relationship dynamics. 2. **"Phonographia" section**: A lengthy article criticizing wealthy American women who marry European nobility, describing them as gullible and status-obsessed. It satirizes the "marriage market" between American heiresses and impoverished European aristocrats, portraying this as exploitation. 3. **Bottom cartoon titled "Shaving versus Skinning"**: A barber-customer exchange where the customer complains the barber is "skinning" rather than shaving him—a humorous complaint about aggressive pricing or rough technique. The overall tone mocks social pretension, particularly regarding class aspirations and commercial exploitation within relationships.