The Wasp — August 30, 1879 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp - Page Analysis **Main Content:** This page features "Russia, As Seen by the 'Wasp'" - a satirical illustrated article about Russian society, accompanied by two wood-cut illustrations showing Russian figures in traditional dress. **Political Context:** The text critiques Russian character and society, describing Russians as "hilarious," prone to exaggeration, and emotionally volatile. It contrasts Russian behavior with Western (particularly Anglo-Saxon) restraint. **The Cartoons:** Two illustrations depict Russian scenes—one appears to show a marketplace or social gathering, the other "A Horseback Marriage," suggesting commentary on Russian customs and social practices. **Purpose:** This is xenophobic 19th-century satire mocking Russian cultural differences as inferior or ridiculous to American/Anglo standards. The accompanying article "Workingmen" discusses labor and class, suggesting the magazine targeted working-class American readers.