The Wasp — 1891 — page 501: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a satirical article titled "Social Chatter" by Satanella, accompanying a portrait illustration of a woman's profile. The article mocks a young married couple through an anecdote about dental work and "painless extraction" methods. The satire centers on the husband's patience with his wife's complaints about a painful tooth until he takes her to a dentist. The "wonderful dentist" uses cocaine to extract the tooth painlessly—a contemporary medical practice. The husband then sarcastically suggests his wife apply the same painless method to her own sharp tongue and nagging behavior. The humor relies on Victorian-era stereotypes about nagging wives and domestic irritation. The remainder of the page contains society gossip items about local San Francisco residents' travels and engagements.