The Wasp — 1891 — page 178: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains satirical commentary and illustrations typical of late 19th-century American satirical journalism. **Top cartoon** ("True to Her Sex"): Shows two men discussing a mare getting "purty old." The joke plays on the phrase "true to her sex"—suggesting women (like the mare) are characterized by aging or physical deterioration. **Middle section** features commentary on San Francisco patriotism, the Lincoln School, and Persian kings' political influence—typical topics for contemporary social criticism. **Bottom cartoon** ("True to Her Sex," part II): Depicts a girl landing with both feet, with an old man's comment about her youth. The humor relies on a similar gendered insult about female behavior or physicality. These cartoons reflect period attitudes toward women through crude physical stereotyping, typical of 1880s-90s satirical publications.