The Wasp — 1890 — page 501: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains two distinct pieces: "A Cruise of a Chinaman," an illustrated article describing life in Chicago's Chinese district, and "A Christmas Composition," a humorous short story about schoolboys. The Chinaman article features multiple sketch-illustrations depicting Chinese shopkeepers and street vendors, using period stereotypes common to 1880s-90s American satire. The text describes Chinese businesses—meat shops, fruit stalls, watch repair—with somewhat patronizing but curious ethnographic tone typical of the era. "A Christmas Composition" is a brief comedic story about a student who submits a composition on spring that simply repeats observations year after year, fooling no one. The humor derives from the boy's transparent laziness. This represents *The Wasp*'s typical mix: social commentary on immigrant communities and light satirical fiction.