The Wasp — 1891 — page 475: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising with one central cartoon** titled "DISPUTED OWNERSHIP." The cartoon depicts two men in what appears to be a kitchen or domestic setting, with one seated and one standing. The caption reads: "Do you own the house, Jack?" / "I did last week." / "Sold it." / "No. We have a new cook lady." The joke appears to satirize **rapid turnover in domestic service**—specifically the hiring and firing of cooks, who were essential household staff in this era. The humor suggests that a cook's presence was so transformative to a household that ownership or control of the home itself seemed to shift with each new employee. This reflects anxieties about servant management and domestic instability common to the period. The rest of the page contains liquor, shipping, and business advertisements typical of 1890s San Francisco publications.