The Wasp — 1894 — page 168: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily **advertising** for San Francisco businesses (hotels, restaurants, printing services). The main cartoon, titled "His Opinion," depicts a couple in what appears to be evening wear, with dialogue about a new dance and ballet. The humor appears to center on **gender dynamics and social pretense**: a man (Spencer) expresses uncertainty about a dance's propriety, while a woman (Ferguson) dismissively responds. Harry then admits he noticed nothing about the ballet's features—suggesting male indifference to cultural events, a common satirical target of the era. The joke likely mocks **masculine performative engagement** with arts and social venues, where men pretend interest to accompany women but remain genuinely unaware or unimpressed. This reflects early 20th-century gender roles in leisure activities.