The Wasp — 1894 — page 289: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a humorous comic strip about a man named Michael (also called "Jones") attempting various dangerous riding activities. The central joke depicts his mishaps: riding a penny-farthing bicycle (the large-wheeled Victorian cycle), falling from a tandem bike, and ultimately suffering injuries—a wooden leg and lost teeth—resulting from his reckless adventures. The satire mocks Victorian-era daredevil behavior and the emerging bicycle craze, portraying Michael as comically accident-prone. His romantic prospects (shown with a bride figure) hinge on selling his tandem cycle to fund "matrimonial bliss"—suggesting that his dangerous hobbies prevent respectability and marriage. The page primarily consists of advertisements for champagne, a hat shop, tailoring services, and other period products.