The Wasp — November 1, 1879 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# The Illustrated Wasp, November 1, 1879 This page is primarily **editorial and advertising content** rather than political cartoons. The masthead shows the magazine's publication details and subscription rates. The main editorial discusses **genealogy and heredity**, arguing that character and reputation are inherited traits passed through family lines. The piece critiques how prominent families sometimes overlook disreputable ancestors, suggesting that inherited social status doesn't guarantee inherited virtue. A secondary piece, "The Authors' Carnival," defends *The Wasp*'s literary merit and explains its editorial functions—separating fact from fiction in serialized stories. The content reflects 1870s-80s concerns about **class, ancestry, and social legitimacy** in post-Civil War America, mocking pretensions to respectability based solely on genealogy.