The Wasp — 1892 — page 248: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* (a San Francisco satirical magazine) contains "The Old Maid's Diary," a first-person column by a woman discussing her health troubles, romantic frustrations, and social observations about gender roles and Chinese laborers in San Francisco. The satirical content mocks the "old maid" stereotype while simultaneously critiquing anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent in 1890s California. The writer defends Chinese workers against xenophobic attitudes while also expressing typical period prejudices. The page includes a poem titled "Cream and Kisses" and advertisements for consumer goods (visible at bottom). The humor targets both frustrated unmarried women and broader social hypocrisies of the era.