The Wasp — 1894 — page 204: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is primarily advertising (Roos Bros. clothiers, John Wieland's lager beer, various San Francisco businesses), but features one cartoon titled **"The Cause of His Sorrow."** The cartoon depicts two working-class men in conversation. According to the caption, Van Ness (appearing dejected) complains to Grove Streeter about his wife leaving him for Jones—described as "a deduced nice fellow and deserved a better fate." The humor stems from the sardonic twist: Van Ness regrets losing his wife not because he loves her, but because Jones deserves better. The satire mocks both male self-pity and the casual callousness with which men discuss romantic relationships, treating women as objects whose loss matters primarily for how it affects a rival's fortunes.