The Wasp — 1890 — page 311: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page from *The Wasp* contains several humor pieces typical of 19th-century American magazines: **"Sawdust or Nature"** mocks a newspaper apprentice who, after being scolded for eating mutton, swears off meat entirely—showing how harsh workplace criticism could produce absurd overreactions. **"Knotty But Not Nice"** depicts a gallows scene, likely a dark joke about capital punishment or crime. **"Bunker's Yaller Baby"** presents a detective encountering a criminal with vivid, unflattering physical descriptions—stereotypical period crime fiction. The page also includes brief comedic dialogues about marriage promises, horse racing, and workplace absurdities. The overall tone reflects *The Wasp's* focus on lampooning everyday social pretensions, workplace folly, and contemporary urban life rather than specific political figures.